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JOHN HENRY COMSTOCK

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Plate 1

rUkT'Wv?)MSFI)M I'ELRnufcWf

A MANUAL

OF THE

STUDY OF INSECTS

BY

JOHN HENRY COMSTOCK

Professor of Entomology in Cornell University

AND

ANNA BOTSFORD COMSTOCK

Member of the Society of American Wood-Engravers

©etoenteentb OBDftton

ITHACA, N. Y.

THE COMSTOCK PUBLISHING COMPANY

1923

Copyright, 1895,

BY

JOHN HENRY COMSTOCK.

v

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

PREFACE.

FOR many years the most pressing demand of teachers
and learners in entomology in this country has been for a
handbook by means of which the names and relative affini¬
ties of insects may be determined in some such way as
plants are classified by the aid of the well-known manuals
of botany. But, as the science of entomology is still in its
infancy, the preparation of such a handbook has been im¬
possible. Excellent treatises on particular groups of insects
have been published ; but no general work including analyt¬
ical keys to all the orders and families has appeared. It is
to meet this need that this work has been prepared.

The reader must not expect, however, to find that de¬
gree of completeness in this work which exists in the man¬
uals of flowering plants. The number of species of insects
is so great that a work including adequate descriptions of all
those occurring in our fauna would rival in size one of the
larger encyclopaedias. It is obvious that such a work is not
what is needed by the teachers and students in our schools,
even if it were possible to prepare it. An elementary work
on systematic entomology will always of necessity be re¬
stricted to a discussion of the characteristics of the orders
and families, and descriptions of a few species as illustrations.
Complete synopses of species will be appropriate only in
works treating of limited groups. It is believed, therefore,
that it would not be wise to materially change the scope of
• iii

IV

PREFACE .

the present work even if it were possible to describe all of
our species.

Although much pains has been taken to render easy the
classification of specimens, an effort has been made to give
the mere determination of the names of insects a very sub¬
ordinate place. The groups of insects have been fully char¬
acterized, so that their relative affinities may be learned ;
and much space has been given to accounts of the habits
and transformations of the forms described. As the needs
of agricultural students have been kept constantly in view,
those species that are of economic importance have been
described as fully as practicable, and particular attention has
been given to descriptions of the methods of destroying
those that are noxious, or of preventing their ravages.

An effort has been made to simplify the study of in¬
sects as much as possible without sacrificing accuracy in the
descriptions. Only such morphological terms have been
used as were necessary to accomplish the object of the book
in a satisfactory manner. And so far as possible a uniform
nomenclature has been used for all orders of insects. The
fact that writers on each order of insects have a peculiar
nomenclature has been a serious obstacle to the progress of
entomology ; this is especially true as regards the nomen¬
clature of the wing-veins. It has been necessary for the
student in passing from the study of one order of insects to
that of another to learn a new set of terms; and in many
cases writers on a single family have a peculiar nomenclature.

The present writer has endeavored to remove this
obstacle by making a serious study of the homologies of the
wing-veins, and by applying the same term throughout the
work to homologous veins. The result is that the student
is required to learn only one set of terms ; and in applying
these terms there will be brought to his attention in a forci¬
ble manner the peculiar modifications of structure charac¬
teristic of each order of insects. Heretofore, with a differ¬
ent nomenclature for the wing-veins of each order such a

PREFACE.

V

comparative study of the various methods of specialization
has been beyond the reach of any but the most advanced
scholars.

The principal features of the method of notation of wing-
veins proposed by Josef Redtenbacher has been adopted.
But as the writer’s views regarding the structure of the
wings of primitive insects are very different from those
of Redtenbacher, the nomenclature proposed in this book is
to a great extent original. The chief point of difference
arises from the belief by the present writer that veins IV
and VI do not exist in the Lepidoptera, Diptera, and
Hymenoptera ; and that, in those orders where they do exist,
they are secondary developments. The reasons for this be.
lief are set forth at length in my essay on Evolution and
Taxonomy.

In this essay there was proposed a new classification of
the Lepidoptera, which was the result of an effort to work
out the pliylogeny of the divisions of this order. This classi¬
fication has been further elaborated in the present work. In
the other orders but few changes have been made from the
more generally accepted classifications. It is more than
probable however, that when the taxonomic principles upon
which this classification of the Lepidoptera is based are ap¬
plied to the classification of the other orders radical changes

will be found to be necessary.

A serious obstacle to the popularization of Natural His¬
tory is the technical names that it is necessary to use. In
order to reduce this difficulty to a minimum the pronuncia¬
tion of all of the Latin terms used has been indicated, by
dividing each into syllables and marking the accented
syllable. In doing this the well-established rules for the
division of Latin words into syllables have been followed.
It seems necessary to state this fact in order to account for
differences which exist between the pronunciations given
here and some of those in certain large dictionaries recently
published in this country.

VI

PREFACE .

Nearly all of the wood-cuts have been engraved from
nature by the Junior Author. As the skill which she has
attained in this art has been acquired during the progress
of the work on this book, some of the earlier-made illustra¬
tions do not fairly represent her present standing as an
engraver. But it does not seem worth while to delay the
appearance of the book in order to re-engrave these figures;
especially as it is believed that they will not be found lack¬
ing in scientific accuracy. The generous appreciation which
the best engravers have shown towards the greater part of
the work leads us to hope that it will be welcomed as an
important addition to entomological illustrations.

Although the chief work of the Junior Author has been
with the pencil and graver, many parts of the text are from
her pen. But in justice to her it should be said that the
plan of the book was changed after she had finished her
writing. It was intended at first to make the book of a
much more elementary nature than it is in its final form.
It has seemed best, however, to leave these parts as written
in order that the work may be of interest to a wider range
of readers than it would be were it restricted to a uniform
style of treatment.

The figures illustrating the venation of the wings of in¬
sects have been drawn with great care under the writer’s
direction by Mr. E. P. Felt and Mr. R. H. Pettit. About
one half of those in the chapter on Lepidoptera were drawn
by Mr. Felt ; the others in this chapter and those in the
chapters on Diptera and Hymenoptera were drawn by Mr.
Pettit.

I wish also to acknowledge the help of my Assistant Mr.
A. D. MacGillivray, to whom I am indebted for much aid in
bibliographical researches and in many other ways; also*
that of Dr. A. C. White of the Cornell University Library,
who has generously given much time to determining the
etymologies of many of the more obscure words the pro¬
nunciations of which are indicated in the text.

PREFACE .

Vll

To the authorities of Cornell University the authors of
this book are under deep obligation for aid and encourage¬
ment. The preparation of the work would not have been
possible but for the liberal grants which they have made for
the purchase of specimens and books.

John Henry Comstock.

Entomological Laboratory,
Cornell University,
December, 1894.

f LA T-Lrv I f A ... M J 5 f U V M t Lfl G u M lib

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Zoological Classification and Zoological Nomenclature... i

II. Insects and their Near Relatives : Branch Arthropoda ;
Class Crustacea, Crabs, Lobsters, Crayfish, and
Others; Class Arachnida, Spiders, Scorpions, Mites,
and Others; and Class Myriapoda, Centipedes and
Millipedes . 9

III. Class Hexapoda or Insects: Characteristics of the Class;

Metamorphoses of Insects ; External Anatomy of In¬
sects; Internal Anatomy of Insects; Table for Deter¬
mining the Orders of Insects; List of the Orders of
Insects . 48

IV. Order Thysanura, Bristle-tails, Spring-tails, Fish-

moths, and Others . 82

V. Order Ephemerida, May-flies . 86

VI. Order Odonata, Dragon-flies . 89

VII. Order Plecoptera, Stone-flies . 93

VIII. Order ISOPTERA, Termites or White-ants . 95

IX. Order CORRODENTIA, Book-lice and Others . 98

X. Order Mallophaga, Bird-lice . 100

XI. Order Dermaptera Earwigs . 102

XII. Order Orthoptera, Cockroaches, Crickets, Grasshop¬
pers, Locusts, and Others . 104

XIII. Order Physopoda, Thrips . 119

XIV. Order Hemiptera, Bugs, Plant-lice, Bark-lice, and

Others . 121

XV. Order Neuroptera, the Dobson and Others . 175

XVI. Order Mecapter A, Scorpion-flies . 184

XVII. Order Trichoptera. Caddice-flies . 186

XVIII. Order Lepidoptera, Moths, Skippers, and Butterflies.. 191

XIX. Order Diptera, Flies . 413

XX. Order Siphonaptera, Fleas . 49°

XXL Order Coleoptera, Beetles . 494

XXII. Order Hymenoptera Bees, Wasps, Ants, and Others.. 599

Index and Glossary . — 679

ix

EXPLANATION OF PLATES,

PLATE I. (Frontispiece.)

FIGURE

1. The Carpet Beetle .

2. The Twelve-spotted Diabrotica .

3. The Adalia bipunctata .

4. The Silver-spotted Skipper .

5. The American Copper .

6. The Red Admiral . . .

7. The Painted Beauty .

PLATE II. (Page 68.)

THE INTERNAL ANATOMY OF A CATERPILLAR.

PLATE III. (Page 70.)

THE INTERNAL ANATOMY OF A COCKROACH.

PLATE IV. (Page 343.)

PSEUDOHAZIS HERA.

PLATE V. (Page 353.)

FIGURE

1. The Luna Moth . .

2. The Crinkled Flannel-moth . .

PLATE VI. (Page 389.)

I. The Spring Azure .

s. The Green Comma .

3. The Hop-merchant .

4. The Banded Elfin .

5. The Mourning-cloak .

6. The Olive Hair-streak .

7. The Spring Azure . .

8. The Violet Tip . . . . .

PAGE

539

577

535

370

390

401

401

PAGE

353

218

391

404

405

393

403

393

39i

405

9

■

i

U*Vr'H*K. M*i3F \*n MELBOURliii

A MANUAL FOR

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

CHAPTER I.

ZOOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE.

I. Zoological Classification.

(For advanced students .)

In order that the myriad forms of animals may be studied with
facility some system of classification is necessary. And now that we
have learned that there exists a blood-relationship between the differ¬
ent kinds of animals, that system which most clearly expresses this
relationship is doubtless the best. This system is termed the Natural
Classification .

It is now generally believed that long ago, in early geological
times, there existed on the earth only very simple animals and plants;
and that from these simple beginnings more and more complex forms
have been developed. This growth in complexity has taken place in
different descendants of these simple primitive beings in very differ¬
ent ways. Thus while it is probable that the first animals lived in
water, and very many still do so, others have become adapted to life
on the land, and in still others organs have been developed by which
they can fly through the air. And under each of these conditions we
find a great diversity of norms, each fitted for some special mode ol
tife.

2

2

THE STUDY OF INSECTS,

The diversity of forms of animal life is much greater than is com
monly supposed. A competent authority has estimated that there
are now living on the earth more than one million species of animals.
And these are merely the surviving descendants of immense series
of beings that have existed in past geological times, the remaining
tips of a great genealogical tree, of which many twigs and branches
have perished.

The common figurative use of the word tree in this connection
expresses well the convergence of the lines of descent toward the
common ancestor from which existing forms have descended. But
in one respect it may be misleading. If an ordinary tree be ex¬
amined, the tip of one branch will closely resemble that of any other
branch of the same tree. But in this figurative genealogical tree
we must imagine a very different state of affairs. Here the law of
growth is constant change; each branch grows in its own individual
way; and each twig of each branch bears fruit peculiar to itself.
The changes, however, are gradual ; and thus the tips of closely-con¬
nected twigs will be similar though not identical ; while the tips of
two branches that separated early in the growth of the tree will be
very different.

It is the effort of the systematist, one who studies the classification
of animals and plants, to work out the relations which exist between
the various tips of the genealogical tree. This study when carried
to its fullest extent includes not only the study of existing forms of
life, but also the study of those that have perished, the trunk-forms
from which existing forms have descended. This, however, is a very
difficult matter; and as yet only the beginnings of the Natural
Classification have been made. See pp. 199 to 204.

If we accept this theory of descent, now almost universally ac¬
cepted by naturalists, it is evident that when we take into account
all the forms of life that have existed we cannot classify animals into
well-marked groups; for as the modification in form is gradual, series
of connecting links have existed between any two forms that might
be selected.

But practically the student that confines his attention to the
study of living forms can classify these forms into more or less well-
marked groups, for many of the connecting links have perished; in
fact, the groups of living animals and plants are so distinct that it is
only in recent years that naturalists have come to understand the
blood-relationship referred to above.

We find that the Animal and Vegetable Kingdoms are made up oi
a vast assemblage of individuals, each the offspring of parents similar

ZOOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION.

3

to itself, and each in turn producing similar offspring. Although the
Cffspring is never exactly like either parent, the degree of variation in
a single generation is slight. And thus we find that there exist large
numbers of individuals which very closely resemble each other. Such
collection of individuals is termed in popular language a kind, in
scientific language a species . Thus the kind of pine trees known as
pitch-pine is a species; and scrub-pine, still another. In the same
Way the name sparrow-hawk indicates a kind or species of hawk; and
pigeon-hawk, another species.

Roughly speaking, a species is a collection of individuals which
resemble each other as closely as the offspring of a single
parent. For example, if any two pitch-pines be studied, nothing will
be found to indicate that they may not have sprung from seeds
grown upon the same tree. On the other hand, if a pitch-pine and
a white-pine be carefully compared, they will be found so different
that no competent observer would believe that they had a common
parent.

Unfortunately this mode of defining the limits of a species cannot
be depended upon. Many instances are known where forms of
animals or plants living in widely-separated regions differ so greatly
that they have been considered distinct species until more extended
collections in the intermediate regions have brought to light series
of intermediate forms, which connect the two so-called species so
closely that it is impossible to say where the one ends and the other
begins.

The only definite way of determining whether two forms are
specifically distinct is to determine whether they naturally interbreed
or not. We find among wild animals a sort of race prejudice which
keeps the members of different species from pairing, although they
may do so when demoralized by domestication. Except in the case
of very-closely-allied species, the pairing of individuals of different
species results in no offspring or in the production of sterile offspring.

This grouping of individuals into species not only facilitates our
study of Natural History, but expresses certain important facts of
inheritance and reproduction. A second and somewhat similar step
is made by grouping species into genera.

We find that there exist groups of closely-allied species, species
that resemble each other in all of the more important characters, and
differ among themselves only in what are known as the specific
characters. Such a group of species is termed a genus. Thus all the
different species of pine taken together constitute the genus pine, or
Pinus, as it is termed by botanists. There are many species or oak,

4

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

as red-oak, live-oak, and water-oak. All of the species of oak taken
together constitute the genus Querctis of botanists. Several species
of hawks and falcons are classed together by zoologists as the genus
Falco.

The genera in turn are grouped into families. Thus the pines,
the spruces, and the larches resemble each other quite closely, and
are classed together as the Pine Family (Abietinece) ; the falcons,
hawks, kites, and eagles are classed together as the Falcon Family
(Falconidce).

Closely-allied families are grouped together to form orders . The
Pine Family, the Cypress Family, and the Yew Family comprise the
Order Coniferce , or cone-bearing plants, of botanists. The Owl Fam¬
ily (< Strigida> ). the Falcon Family (Falconidce), and the Vulture Family
( VuUuridce ) constitute the Order Rap lores, or Birds of Prey.

Closely-allied orders are grouped together to form classes. Thus
all the orders of birds taken together constitute the Class Aves or
Birds.

The classes are grouped into branches , which are the principal
divisions of the Animal Kingdom.* In studying the different forms
of animals it is found that there are several distinct types of structure.
Some animals are built upon one plan or structure, and others on
other plans. All animals built on the same plan are said to belong to
the same Branch. Thus the back-boned animals comprise the Bra?ich
Vertebrata; the clams, oysters, snails, cuttle fish, and certain other
allied forms comprise the Branch Mollusca ; and the insects, spiders,
centipedes, lobsters, and their near relatives comprise the Branch
Arthropoda .

All the branches of animals taken together constitute the Animal
Kingdom.

It is not possible to lay down rules by which these different groups
of animals can be limited. For, as has been shown in our discussion
of species, all have been connected in past time by intermediate forms
But notwithstanding this, each of the terms given above (Branch,
Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species) expresses a pretty definite
conception, which the student will learn to comprehend by practice
in classifying animals. But the sequence in rank of these groups
should be learned at the outset. Beginning with the most compre¬
hensive it is as follows :

* The principal divisions of the Vegetable Kingdom are not termed
Branches ; hence we will not make further use of botanical illustrations in
this connection.

ZOOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE.

5

Animal Kingdom.

Branch or Subkingdom.

Class.

Order.

Family.

Genus.

Species.

Individual.

It is sometime desirable to indicate other groups than those named
above. Thus a family may be divided into subfamilies, or an order
into suborders. And occasionally an even more minute division is
made. Thus several closely-allied families may be grouped together
as a superfamily, a group of lower rank than a suborder. The follow¬
ing table includes all the grades of groups now commonly employed :

Kingdom.

Branch or Subkingdom.

Class.

Subclass.

Superorder.

Order.

Suborder.

Superfamily.

Family.

Subfamily.

Genus.

Subgenus.

Species.

Subspecies.

Variety.

Individual.

V I. Zoological Nomenclature.

(For advanced students.')

At the beginning of his studies of Natural History the student is
met with what is to him a new and strange set of names. These
names are often long. In form they belong to a dead language, with
which, in these days, even many educated people are unfamiliar. It
is not strange that we often hear complaint respecting the difficulty of
this nomenclature.

s

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

A little study of the matter, however, is sufficient to show the
necessity for scientific names. The common names of animals will
not answer our purpose ; for the same name is often applied to widely
different animals in different localities, while a single species of animal
is known by totally different names in different sections of the country.

In order that information respecting animals may be recorded so
that there need not be any doubt regarding the animal to which refer¬
ence is made, it is necessary that each species or group of species
should have a distinct name by which it shall be known by naturalists
in all parts of the world. Therefore, to each branch, class, order,
family, genus, and species which has been described there has been
given a special name, by which it is known, and which pertains to this
group alone.

As this nomenclature is used by all naturalists of whatever nation¬
ality, it is necessary that the names should be in a language which
can be understood by all. As Latin was the language in which most
scientific books were written at the time this nomenclature was estab¬
lished, that language was chosen as the universal language of science;
and the rule has been adopted that all names of animals and plants
shall be Latin, or Latin in form.

The name of a species consists of two words — the name of the
genus to which the species belongs, followed by an adjective indicat¬
ing the particular species ; for in Latin an adjective follows the noun
which it qualifies, instead of preceding it as in English. Thus the
scientific name of the Pigeon-hawk is Falco columbarius; that of the
Sparrow-hawk is Falco sparverius ; and that of the Prairie-falcon is
Falco mexicanus .

In the case of many species we find well-marked subspecies or
geographical races which it is desirable to distinguish by name. Thus
the Pigeon-hawk occurs over the whole of North America. But we
find that those that live in the northwest coast region extending from
California to Sitka, constitute a distinct geographical race known as
the Black Merlin. As the Black Merlin and the typical Pigeon-hawk
intergrade, they constitute a single species, which is known as Falco
columbarius. To the Black Merlin has been applied the subspecific
name suckleyi . When, therefore, it is desired to refer to the Black
Merlin as distinguished from the typical Pigeon-hawk the term
Falco columbarius suckleyi is used. If reference is to be made to the
typical Pigeon-hawk as distinguished from the Black Merlin, it is
designated as Falco columbarius columbarius.

In writing long names like those given above they are frequently

ZOOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE .

7

abbreviated if the context is such that the abbreviations will be read¬
ily understood. Thus the name of the Black Merlin may be written
Fa/co c. suckleyi or F. c. suckleyi .

Subspecific names are used by entomologists not only to distinguish
geographical races, but also to distinguish the different forms of
dimorphic and polymorphic species. A good illustration is afforded
by a certain species of Swallow-tail Butterfly common in the Atlantic
States. This species exists under two distinct forms; one of these is
yellow marked with black, and has long been known as Jasoniades
turnus ; the other is almost entirely black, and has been known as
Jasoniades glaucus. At first it was supposed that these were different
species ; but in recent years the two forms have been bred from eggs
laid by the same female. It is thus evident that the two forms repre¬
sent a single species. And as the form glaucus was first described its
name is given to the species, which is now known as Jasoniades
glaucus . This name Jasoniades glaucus is used when reference is
made to the species as a whole. But if one wishes to refer to the
black form alone, it is distinguished as Jasoniades glaucus glaucus ;
while the yellow form is distinguished as Jasoniades glaucus turnus .

In the illustrations just given the dimorphism occurs in the same
generation. But many instances are known where the dimorphism is
seasonal. Thus in the case of certain insects which pass through two
or more generations in the course of a year, the different generations,
or some of them, differ markedly in form or coloring from the others.
These differences in many cases are so great that the different genera¬
tions of the same species were believed to be distinct species till they
were bred from each other. It is therefore often desirable to distin¬
guish these different forms by subspecifk names. Thus Iphiclides
ajax is a species of Swallow-tail Butterfly which exists under three
distinct seasonal forms: an early spring form, I. ajax marcellus ; a
late spring form,/, ajax telavionides / and a summer form, /. ajax
ajax.

The name of a genus or of a subgenus is always a single word,
and should be a noun in the singular number and nominative case.

The names of all groups of genera (i.e., families, orders, classes,
and branches) consist each of a single word , and this word should
be a plural noun in the nominative case.

The following practices regarding the forms of zoological names
are now almost universally followed :

The names of all groups in zoology, from kingdom to subgenus
inclusive, are written and printed with a capital initial letter.

8

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Specific and subspecific names are written and printed with a small
initial letter. Thus in writing the name of a species the generic
name is capitalized, the specific name not ; eg., Iphiclides ajax.

The names of families end in idee ; the names of subfamilies, in
ince.

It will aid the student greatly in the pronunciation of family and
subfamily names to know that the / of -idee in family names is short,
and consequently the accent falls on the syllable preceding this
letter; while the i of -ince of subfamily names is long, and is conse¬
quently accented.* Numerous examples are given in the following
pages.

* This in accordance with the rule of Latin grammar that in words of more
than two syllables the penult if long is accented; but if the penult is short the
accent falls on the antepenult.

CHAPTER II.

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES.

Branch ARTHROPODA (Ar-throp'o-da).

The Arthropods ( Ar'thro-pods ).

If an insect, a spider, a scorpion, a centipede, or a lobster
be examined, the body will bo found to be composed of a
series of more or less similar rings or seg¬
ments joined together; and some of these
segments will be found to bear jointed
legs (Fig. i). All the animals possessing
these characteristics are classed together
as the Branch Arthropoda.

A similar segmented form of the body
is found among worms; but these are dis¬
tinguished from the Arthropods by the
absence of legs. It should be remembered
that many animals commonly called worms,
as the tomato-worm, apple-worm, etc., ar&
not true worms, but are the larvae of in¬
sects (Fig. 2). The angle-w'orm is the
most familiar example of a true worm.

The Branch Arthropoda is the largest
of the branches of the Animal Kingdom,
including many more knov-n species than ail the other
branches taken together. Our common representatives are
distributed among four classes: these are the Crustacea,
the Arachnida, the Myriapoda, and the Hexapoda. The

9

IO

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

first three classes are briefly discussed in this chapter; the
fourth comprises the Insects, and is the subject of the
remaining parts of this book.

Fig, 2. — A larva of an insect.

The following table will enable the student to distin¬
guish the classes of the Arthropoda.*

TABLE OF CLASSES OF THE ARTIIROPODA.

A. With two pairs of antennae and at least five pairs of legs. Aquatic

animals breathing by gills, p. 1 1 . . . Crustacea.

AA. With one pair of antennae or with none. Air-breathing ani¬
mals. The number of legs varies from six to many.

* The following is the method of using the analytical tables given in this
book: Read carefully the statement of characteristics given opposite A and
AA respectively, and by examining the animal to be classified determine
which is true of this animal. This will indicate in which division of the
table the name of the group to which the animal belongs is to be looked for.
If this division. of the tablets subdivided, pass to B and BB (also to BBB if
it occurs) in this division and determine in a like manner under which the
animal belongs. Continue in this way, passing to the letters C, D, E, etc., in
regular order till the name of the group is reached. Then turn to the page
indicated and read the description or the group given there, comparing the
specimens with the description. It should be borne in mind that an analyt¬
ical table is merely an aid to the determination of groups. As the groups that
we recognize are not always sharply limited in nature, we cannot expect to
be able in every case to find characters that will serve to distinctly separate
them in a table. Therefore when a student has determined by the aid of a
key to what group a species seems to belong, he should verify this determi¬
nation by a study of the characters of that group given in the detailed dis¬
cussion of it.

INSEC'TS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES, .

II

B. Without antennas and with four pairs of legs, although the
maxillary palpi are often leg-like in form, making the animal
appear to have five pairs of legs. p. 12 . Arachnida.

BB. With antennae.

C. With more than three pairs of legs; and without wings, p.

45 . Myriapoda.

CC. With only three pairs of legs, and usually with wings in
the adult state, p.48 . Hexapoda„

Class Crustacea (Crus-ta'ce-a).

The Crustaceans ( Crus-ta’ ce-ans ).

The members of this class are aquatic Artliropoda, which
breathe by true gills. They have two pairs of ante nncp and at
least five pairs of legs .

The most familiar illustrations of the Crustacea are thf*
Cray-fishes, the Lobsters,
the Shrimps, and the
Crabs. Cray-fishes (Fig. 3)
abound in our brooks, and
are often improperly called
Crabs. The Lobsters, the
Shrimps, and the true
Crabs live in salt water.

The Crustaceans are
distinguished from all oth¬
er Arthropods by their
mode of respiration, being
the only ones that breathe
by true gills. Many in¬
sects live in water, and

are furnished with gill-like

. , . Fig. 3 —A Cray-fish,

organs; but these are

tracheal gills, organs which differ essentially in structure
from true gills, as described later, in the chapter on Anat¬
omy of Insects. The Crustacea also differ from other
Arthropoda in having two pairs of antennae; and from all

12

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Fig. 4.— Crustacea : a . Cypris; 6
Cyclops; c, Daphnia.

except the Myriapoda in having many (more than four)
pairs of legs.

The illustrations named above are the more conspicuous
members of the class ; but many
other smaller forms abound both in
the sea and in fresh water. Some of
the more minute fresh-water forms
are almost sure to occur in any fresh¬
water aquarium. In Figure 4 are
represented three of these, greatly enlarged.

Among the Crustacea that live in damp places on
the Sow-bugs, Oniscidce (O-nis'ci-dae), are most often1
seen. These frequently occur about water-soaked
wood ; and are often mistaken, by students begin¬
ning the study of Entomology, for insects or Myria¬
pods. Figure 5 represents a Sow-bug.

On the sea-coast an immense number of forms FsSwlbu£
of Crustacea occur.

land

Class Arachnida (A-rach'ni-da).

Scorpions , Harvestmen , Spiders , Mites , and others .

The members of this class are air-breathing Arthropods, in
which the head and thorax are grown together , forming a
cephalothorax , which have four pairs of legs fitted for zvalk-
mg, and which have no feeler-like antenna .

The Arachnida abound wherever insects occur, and are
often mistaken for insects. But they can be easily distin¬
guished by the characters given above, even in those cases
where an exception occurs to some one of them. The more
important of the exceptions are the following: In the Sol-
pugida the head is distinct from the thorax ; as a rule the
young of mites have only six legs, but a fourth pair are
added during growth ; and in the gall mites ( Phytoptus ) there
are only four legs.

In the Arachnida we find only simple eyes.

The cephalothorax (ceph-a-lo-tho'rax) bears six pairs of

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES .

13

Fig. 6. — Lower side of
cephalothorax of a
spider : tnd, man¬
dible ; tttx, maxilla ;
us ; /, lower
sternum.

dible: ;
A palp*
lip ; sy s

appendages — two pairs of jaws, and four pairs of legs. The
first pair of jaws are the mandibles (man'di-bles), the second,
the maxillce (max-il'lse).

The mandibles (Fig. 6, md) lie in front of and above the
mouth, and consist each of two or three segments. The\
serve for seizing prey, and often also for
killing it. In many books they are termed
the chelicerce (che-lic'e-rae).

The maxillce (Fig. 6, nix') lie just behind
the mandibles, one on each side of the
mouth. Each maxilla bears a large feeler
or palpus (Fig. 6,/). These palpi vary
greatly in form ; frequently they resemble
legs ; hence many Arachnida appear to
have five pairs of legs. The palpi are often
so largely developed that each maxilla ap¬
pears to be merely the first segment of its
leg-like palpus. These appendages are often

called the pedipalpi (ped-i-pal'pi). But as the
name Pedipalpi is applied to one of the or¬
ders of the Arachnida, we will call these ap¬
pendages the palpi.

The legs of Arachnida consist typically of
seven parts (Fig. 7), which are named, begin¬
ning with the one next to the body, as fol¬
lows : r, coxa (cox'a) ; 2, trochanter (tro-chan'-
ter) ; 3, femur (fe'mur); 4, patella (pa-tel'la);
5, tibia (tib'i-a) ; 6, metatarsus (met-a-tar'sus) ;
and 7, tarsus (tar'sus). The tarsus may be composed of
several segments, and is usually furnished with claws.

Two forms of breathing organs are found in this class :
one, tracheae, resembling the tracheae of insects, described
in the chapter on the anatomy of insects ; and the other,
tracheal lungs or lung sacs, which consist of many leaf-like
plates enclosed in a sac. Both forms open by paired spira¬
cles, which are usually situated on the lower side of some of
the abdominal segments.

14

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Very great differences exist in the several orders of the
Arachnida in respect to the division of the body into seg¬
ments. In arranging the orders in a series, we place first
those in which the segments of the body are most distinctly
indicated, while those which seem to depart more widely
from the segmented type characteristic of the Arthropoda
are placed later.

The class Arachnida includes seven orders ; these are
designated as follows :

The Scorpions, Order SCORPIONIDA (p. 15).

The Jointed Spiders, Order SOLPUGIDA (p. 16).

The Pseudoscorpions, Order PSEUDOSCORPIONES (p. 17).
The Whip-scorpions, Order PEDIPALPI (p. 17).

The Harvestmen, Order Phalangidea (p. 19).

The Spiders, Order Araneida (p. 20).

The Mites, Order Ac ARINA (p. 42).

TABLE OF THE ORDERS OF THE ARACHNIDA.

A Abdomen distinctly segmented.

B. Abdomen with a tail-like prolongation.

C. Tail stout and armed with a sting at the end ; first pair of legs
not greatly elongated; a pair of comb-like appendages on the
lower side of the second abdominal segment in the adult.

( Scorpions .) p. 15 . . . SCORPIONIDA.

CC. Tail slender, whip-lash-like, without sting; first pair of legs
much longer than the others; without comb-like appendages
on abdomen. ( Whip-scorpions .) ( Thdyphonidcs.) p. 17.

Pedipalpi.

BB. Abdomen without a tail-like prolongation.

C. Palpi with pincer-like claws. ( Pseudoscorpio?is .) p. 17.

PSEUDOSCORPIONES.

CC. Palpi without pincer-like claws.

D. Abdomen joined to the thorax by a slender stalk; front
legs greatly elongated and with whip-lash-like tarsi. ( Whip-

scorpions .) ( Phrynidce. ) p. 17 . PEDIPALPI.

DD. Abdomen broadly joined to the thorax.

E. Legs usually very long and slender; thorax not dis¬
tinctly divided into three segments. (Harvestmen.) p. 19.

Phalangidea.

EE. Legs moderately long; head distinct from thorax ; thorax
distinctly divided into three segments, p. 16. Solpugida.

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES .

15

AA. Abdomen unsegmented.

B. Abdomen joined to the cephalothorax by a short, narrow stalk.

(Spiders.) p. 20 . Araneida.

EB. Abdomen fused with the cephalothorax. (Mites.) p. 42.

Acarina.

Order SCORPIONIDA (Scor-pi-on'i-da).

The Scorpions .

With the scorpions (Fig. 8), the body is divided into a
compact, unsegmented cephalothorax, and a long, segmented
abdomen. The abdomen is divided
into two portions : a broad pre-abdo¬
men, consisting of seven segments ;
and a slenderer tail-like division, the
post-abdomen, consisting of five seg¬
ments. At the end of the post-abdo¬
men there is a large poison-sting,
which appears like a segment. The
mandibles and the palpi are provided
with pincers. As the palpi are very
large, with stout pincers, they resem¬
ble in a striking manner the great claws
of lobsters. The cephalothorax bears
from three to six pairs of eyes. Scor¬
pions breathe by means of lung sacs,
of which there are four pairs, opening
on the lower side of the third to the
sixth abdominal segments.

Full-grown scorpions possess a pair ot comb-like organs
on the lower side of the second abdominal segment. The
function of these organs is not yet known.

The sexes of scorpions differ in that the male has
broader pincers and a longer post-abdomen. Scorpions do
not lay eggs, the young being developed within the mother.
After the birth of the young, the mother apparently shows
great regard for them, carrying them about with her for

i6

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

some time, attached by their pincers to all portions of her
body.

Scorpions live in warm countries. They are common in
the southern portion of the United States, but are not found
in the North. They are nocturnal, remaining concealed dur¬
ing the day, but leaving their hiding-places at dusk. When
they run the post-abdomen is bent upwards over the back.
They feed upon spiders and large insects, which they seize
with the large pincers of their palpi, and sting to death with
their caudal poison sting.

The sting of a scorpion rarely if ever proves fatal to man,
although the larger species, which occur in the Tropics, pro¬
duce serious wounds.

Nearly twenty species are known from North America.

Order SOLPUGIDA (Sol-pu'gi-da).

The Jointed Spiders.

The members of this order differ from all other Arach-
nida in having the head separate from the thorax, and in

having the thorax composed of
three distinct segments, as with
insects. The mandibles are very
large, and are furnished with
strong pincers. The palpi are
shaped like the legs, and are said
to be used in locomotion. The
first of the four pairs of true legs,
like the palpi, are not furnished
with claws, and are used as palpi.
There are only two eyes. Respi¬
ration is effected by means of
„ . tracheae, which open through three

Fig. 9.— A Jomted-spider, Datames # , 1 0

diiatata. (After Putnam.) pairs of spiracles, situated in the

first thoracic and the second and third abdominal segments.

Only a few species of Solpugida occur in the United

States, and specimens of these are rarely found. So far

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELA TIVES. IJ

as is known, our species are nocturnal, remaining con-
cealed during the day. They prey upon small insects, and
are believed to be harmless. Figure 9 will serve to show
the appearance of these curious animals. The popular
name, jointed-spiders, is suggested by the segmented con¬
dition of the abdomen.

Order PSEUDOSCORPIONES (Pseu-do-scor-pi'o-nes.)

The Pseudoscorpions .

The pseudoscorpions (Fig. 10) are small Arachnida,
which resemble scorpions in the form of their body, except
that the hinder part of the abdomen is not nar¬
row, as is the post-abdomen of scorpions, and
they have no caudal poison-sting. The abdo¬
men is broad, flat, and composed of eleven
segments, or in some cases of only ten.

The pseudoscorpions possess only one or
two pairs of eyes, and in some, eyes are want¬
ing. They breathe by means of tracheae, ’dawTorpionf*11*
which open through two pairs of spiracles on the lower side
of the second and third abdominal segments.

These little scorpion-like creatures live under stones, be¬
neath the bark of trees, in moss, and in the dwellings of man,
between the leaves of books, etc. They run rapidly, side-
wise and backwards ; and feed on mites and small insects.
They are often found attached to insects, especially to flies;
but they probably do not feed on these large insects, but
merely use them as means of rapid locomotion.

The pseudoscorpions occur in the Northern States as
well in the South.

Order Pedipalpi (Ped-i-pal'pi).

The Whip-scorpions .

These strange creatures are found only in the extreme
southern part of our country, being tropical animals. In

3

IS

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

their general form they have some resemblance to scor¬
pions. They can be easily distinguished by the form of
the front legs, which are greatly elongated, and have the
tarsi broken up into many small segments; this gives these
legs a more or less whip-lash-like appearance. In one
family the abdomen also bears a whip-lash-like appendage.

The mandibles are furnished with claws; the palpi are
very large and armed with strong spines, and the abdomen
is distinctly separated from the thorax. The order includes
two families, both of which are represented in the United
States.

Family Ti-ielyphonidje (Thel-y-phon'i-das).

The Tail Whip-scorpions .

This family is represented in the United States by

only a single species, the
Giant Whip - scorpion,
ThelypJionus giganteus
(T h e-ly p h 'o-n us gi-gan -
te'us). This species
measures when full
grown from four to five
inches in length. Figure
1 1 represents one less
than natural size. These
whip-scorpions are great¬
ly feared on account of
theirsupposed venomous
powers, but it is prob¬
able that there is no
foundation for this fear.
Although it has been
stated often that their
bites are poisonous, we
Fig. ii .—Theiypkonus giganteus, can find no direct evi-

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELA TIVES. 19

dence that it is so. They destroy their prey by crushing it
with their palpi.

Family Phrynid.® (Phryn'i-dse).

The Tailless Whip-scorpions.

This family is represented in our fauna by the genus
Phrynus (Phry'nus), the members of which are smaller than
the Giant Whip-scorpion. In this family the front legs
are even more whip-lash-like than in the preceding family;
the whole body is relatively shorter and broader; the
abdomen is joined to the thorax by a slender stalk, and
the tail-like appendage is lacking.

Order PHALANGIDEA (Phal-an-gid'e-a).

The Harvestmen , or Daddy Long Legs.

The Harvestmen are very common in most parts of
the United States. They are well known to children in
this country under the name Daddy Long Legs, but as this
name is also sometimes applied to Crane-flies, Harvestmen
jg preferable. In some sections of the country the Har¬
vestmen arc known as Grandfather Graybeards.

Most Harvestmen can be recognized by their very long
and slender legs (Fig. 12), although some species have

comparatively short ones. The cephalothorax is indistinctly
if at all segmented. The abdomen is short, broad, consists

20 THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

of six segments, and is without a tail-like appendage; it
is broadly joined to the cephalothorax.

The eyes of the Harvestmen are two in number, and
are situated on a prominent tubercle near the middle of
the cephalothorax. The mandibles are pincer-like. The
maxillae are large, and so opposed as to act as jaws ; their
palpi are four-jointed, and are small compared with the palpi
of the preceding orders; they resemble in form and func¬
tion the palpi of insects. The members of this order
breathe by tracheae, which open by a single pair of spir¬
acles, on the lower side of the body at the junction of
the cephalothorax and abdomen.

The Harvestmen feed on small insects, especially Aphids,
and are perfectly harmless. They are said to devour their
prey, chewing it with their maxillae, and swallowing it, y
instead of merely sucking out the blood, as do most other £
Arachnida. ^

Cl

Although the Harvestmen have stilt-like legs, they do w
not raise the body much above the ground when they t.
walk, but carry it quite near their feet, with the middle u
part of their legs high in the air. They are said to pounce ;
upon their prey as does a cat upon a mouse, and seize ^
it with their palpi as if with hands.

It is a common practice with children to catch these
creatures and say to them, “ Grandfather Graybeard, tell
me where the cows are, or Til kill you.” As the poor
frightened animal points its legs in all directions in its
frantic efforts to escape, it usually earns its freedom ; but
too often it is not without the loss of one or more legs.

Order Araneida (Ar-a-ne'i-da).

The Spiders .

The Spiders differ from other Arachnida in having the
abdomen unsegmented and joined to the cephalothorax
by a short, narrow stalk. The cephalothorax is also un-

»|A T*

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELA TIVES.

21

segmented ; and the abdomen bears at its end organs for
spinning silk (Fig. 13).

Fig. 13. — Pence tia viridans. (From the Author’s Report on Cotton Insects.)

The mandibles (Fig. 14, md) consist of two segments,
a strong basal one and a claw-shaped terminal one, at
the tip of which a poison gland opens (Fig.

15). It is by means of these organs that
spiders kill their prey. The palpi are leg¬
like in form, but differ greatly according
to sex. In the female the last segment of
the palpus resembles a foot of the spider,
and is usually armed with a well-developed
curved claw. But in the male the corre¬
sponding segment is more or less enlarged,
and very complicated in structure (Fig. 16).

The greater number of spiders have four
pairs of eyes (Fig. 17), but there may be

Fig. 14.— Lower side
of cephalothorax of
a spider ; md, man¬
dible; mxy maxilla;
A palpus ; /, lower
lip;

Sy sternum.

Fig. 15.— Tip of claw of
mandible of spider.

Fig. t6. — Maxilla and
palpus of male house-
spider.

Fig. 17. — Head of epider,
showing eyes and mandi¬
bles.

22

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

only one, two, or three pairs ; and certain cave spiders
are blind. Spiders breathe by means of lung-sacs, of which
there are one or two pairs ; and some have tracheae also.
The lung-sacs open on the lower side of the abdomen
near its base, and between them is the opening of the
reproductive organs. The tracheae open through a single
spiracle near the hind end of the body, just in front of the
spinning organs.

The spinning organs, which are situated near the end of
the abdomen, consist of two or three pairs of spinnerets.

These appendages (Fig. 18) are more
or less finger-like in form, and some¬
times jointed. Upon the end of each
spinneret there are many small tubes,
the spinning tubes, from which the silk
is spun (Fig. 19). Some spiders have
as many as one hundred and fifty or
two hundred of these spinning-tubes
on each spinneret. The silk is in a
fluid state while it is within the body, but it hardens as
soon as it comes in contact with the air.

In addition to the many small spinning tubes, there are
a few larger ones, termed spigots. The ordinary thread is
spun from two or four of these. The small spinning
tubes are used in making attachment disks for fast¬
ening threads in place, in making a swathing band
for enveloping prey, and, sometimes, in making a fig. x9.
broad, wavy band across the center of a web. We *$£££*
have observed a spider seize a large grasshopper greatly
which was entangled in its web, and, rolling it over cnlar^ed*
two or three times, completely envelop it in a sheet of silk
spun from its spread-apart spinnerets.

In the construction of their web some spiders make
use of two kinds of silk. One of these is dry and inelastic ;
the other, viscid and elastic. This fact can be easily seen
by examining an orb-web. If the spiral line which forms

Fig. t8. — End of abdomen of
spider, showing six spinner¬
ets spread apart: in front of
these is the spiracle, and be¬
hind them the open. ngot the
alimentary canal.

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES.

23

the greater part of the web be touched, it will adhere to the
finger, and will stretch, when the finger is withdrawn, to
several times the original length. But if one of the radiat¬
ing lines or a portion of the outer framework be touched, it
will neither adhere to the finger nor be stretched. If the
spiral line be examined with a lens, it will be found to bear
numerous bead-like masses of viscid matter (Fig. 20); this
explains its adhesiveness.

It is supposed that the two kinds of silk are spun from
different spinnerets, and that the viscid silk comes from the
front pair. When this silk is first spun the viscid matter
forms a continuous layer of liquid on the outside of it. But
very soon this layer breaks up into the bead-like masses — in
a way similar to that in which the moisture on a clothes-line
in a foggy day collects into drops.

Spiders of the two families Dictynidce and Uloboridce
have spinning organs differing from those of all other

Fig. 20.— Viscid silk Fig. 21.— Spinnerets of Fig. 22.— Last two segments

from an orb web. a Dictynid spider. of hind leg of spider, show-

The middle pair of ing calamistrum.
spinnerets are con¬
cealed by the first
pair, r, cribellum.

spiders. They have in front of the usual spinnerets an
additional organ, which is named the cribellum (cri:berium)
(Fig. 21). This bears spinning-tubes like the other spinner¬
ets, but these tubes are much finer. These spiders have
also on the metatarsus of the hind legs one or two rows of
curved spines : this organ is the calamistrum (cal-a-mis'trum)
(Fig. 22). By means of the calamistrum these spiders comb
from the cribellum a band of loose threads, which forms
a part of their webs.

24

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

Spiders make use of silk in the construction of their
webs or snares, in the building of tubes or tents within
which they live, in the formation of egg-sacs, and in loco¬
motion.

Fig. 23 represents the large egg-sac of one of the orb-
weavers. This is made in the autumn, and contains at that
season a large number of eggs — five hun¬
dred or more. These eggs hatch early in
the winter; but no spiders emerge from
the egg-sac until the following spring. If
egg-sacs of this kind be opened at differ¬
ent times during the winter, as was done
by Dr. Wilder, the spiders will be found
to increase in size but diminish in num¬
ber as the season advances. In fact, a
strange tragedy goes on within these
egg-sacs: the stronger spiders calmly
devour their weaker brothers, and in
the spring those which survive emerge
sufficiently nourished to fight their bat¬
tles in the outside world.

The egg-sacs of the different species of spiders vary

Fig. 23. — Egg-sac of
A rgiope riparia,

(From Wilder.)

Fig. 24.— Egg-sac of Nephila plum! pcs (From Wilder.)

greatly in form. In some, as in that figured above, the outer
covering is very dense, while in others the outer part con-

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES. 25

sists of loose flossy silk (Fig. 24). One of the most common
kinds is very flat, silvery in color, and is
firmly attached to stones lying upon the
ground (Fig. 25).

Every on~ knows that a spider wishing
to descend to some place beneath it simply
fastens a line to the object which it is
upon and then drops boldly off, regulat- Fic 25. _Egff.sac of a
ing the rate of its descent by spinning Drassid*

the line rapidly or slowly; when the spider wishes to return,
it has only to climb up the same line.

Frequently spiders pass from point to point in a hori¬
zontal direction by means of silken bridges. These are
formed in this way : The spider spins out a thread, which is
carried off by a current in the air. After a time the thread
strikes some object and adheres to it ; then the spider pulls
the line tight, and fastens it where it is standing. It then
has a bridge, along which it can easily run.

But more remarkable than either of these uses of silk for
locomotion is the fact that many spiders are able to travel
long distances, hundreds of miles, through the air by means
of these silken threads —

“sailing mid the golden air
In skiffs of yielding gossamere.” — ( Hogg .)

The Aeronautic Spiders, or Flying Spiders, as they are
more commonly called, are frequently very abundant, espe¬
cially in warm antumn days. At such times innumerable
threads can be seen streaming from fences, from bushes, and
the tips of stalks of grass, or floating through the air. The
flying spider climbs to some elevated point, which may be
merely the tip of a stalk of grass, and then, standing on the
tips of its feet, lifts its body as high as it can, and spins out
a thread of silk. This thread is carried up and away by a
current of air. When the thread is long enough the force of
the air current on it is sufficient to buoy the spider up. It

20

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

then lets go its hold with its feet and sails away. That these
spiders travel long distances in this manner has been shown
by the fact that they have been seen floating through the
air at sea far from land.

Representatives of nearly thirty families of spiders have
been found in the United States. But some of these fami¬
lies include only rare species, and others arc represented by
so few species that we cannot discuss them here. The
greater number of our spiders belong to the eleven families
described below. The following table will aid the student
in separating these families.

TABLE FOR SEPARATING THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES OF

SPIDERS.

A. Claw of the mandibles moving vertically; four lung-slits present.

( Tarantulas .) p. 27 . Theraphosid^e.

AA. Claw of the mandibles moving horizontally; only two lung-slits
present, but with a single spiracle or a pair of spiracles also.

B. Eyes equal or nearly equal in size, and usually arranged in two
rows.

C. Feet furnished with two claws (Fig. 28). Spiders which
do not spin webs for catching prey.

D. Second pair of legs not so long as the fourth pair.

E. Maxillae with a concavity or furrow (Fig. 29). Spiders

which live on the ground, p. 29 . DRASSIDJE.

EE. Maxillae convex (Fig. 32). Spiders which live chiefly in

silken tubes on bushes, p. 30 . Clubionid.e.

DD. Second pair of legs as long as or longer than the fourth

pair. ( The crab-spider si) p. 40 . Thomisid^E.

CC. Feet furnished with three claws (Fig. 38). Spiders which
spin webs for catching prey.

D. The caudal pair of spinnerets very long, and two-jointed.
Spiders which make irregular webs with a tube or hiding-
place at one side, from which they run on the upper surface

of the web, to catch their prey. p. 30 . AgalenidjE.

DD. All of the spinnerets short.

E. With cribellum and calamistrum. Spiders making webs
in which there are curled threads, or double threads.

/NSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES.

27

F. The side eyes not as far apart as the middle eyes; a
considerable space between the eyes and the front edge
of the head. Spiders making irregular webs. p. 32.

DlCTYNIDiE.

FF. The side eyes as far or farther apart than the middle
eyes; eyes very close to the front edge of the head.
Spiders making regular webs. ( Uloborus .) p. 38.

ULOBORIDiE.

EE. With neither cribellum nor calamistrum. Spiders mak¬
ing webs in which there are no curled threads.

F. Eyes not near the front edge of the head, the space be¬
tween the two being greater than that occupied by the
eyes (Fig. 37). Spiders that spin irregular webs, in or
near which they live, hanging back downwards, p. 34.

Theridiid^e.

FF. Eyes near the front edge of the head, the space be¬
tween the two being less than that occupied by the eyes
(Fig. 42). Spiders that make regular webs, consisting
chiefly of lines radiating from the centre, and a spiral or
looped sticky line. p. 35 . Epeirid/E.

3B. The eyes unequal in size and arranged in three or four rows.

C. With cribellum and calamistrum. Spiders which make webs.

{Hypt totes.) p. 38 . Uloborid;e.

CC. With neither cribellum nor calamistrum. Spiders which do
not spin webs for catching prey.

D. The largest eyes not in the front row. ( Running spiders .)

P- 4° . ; . LYCOSIDiE.

DD. The largest eyes in the front row. ( Jumping spiders .)

p- 42 . AttidjE.

Family Theraphosid^E (Ther-a-phos'i-dae).

The Tarantulas and the Trap-door Spiders .

Those who live in the warmer parts of our country know
well the large spiders commonly called Tarantulas. These
are the giants among spiders, some of them being the largest
known ; but some species of this family are not very large.
They are dark-colored, hairy spiders, and can be distinguished
from the other families mentioned here by the fact that the

28

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

claw of the mandibles works up and down instead of side-
wise.

The members of this family do not construct true webs,
but they dig long tubes in the earth, which they line with
silk, or line their hiding-places in clefts in trees or elsewhere
with a layer of silk. They live only in warm countries.

One of the best known of the Tarantulas is Eurypelnia
hentzii (Eu-ryp'el-ma hentz'i-i). This species occurs in the
South and in the Middle West, and is the largest of our
spiders (Fig. 26). Several closely allied species are found in
California.

Fig. 26.— A Tarantula, Eurypelnia hentzii .

But the members of this family that have attracted most
admiration on account of their habits are the Trap-door
Spiders. These dig a tube in the ground, as do many other
members of this family ; but this tube is lined with a denser

Fig. 27. — Entrance to nest of a trap-door spider.

layer of silk, and is provided with a hinged lid, which fits
the opening of the tube with wonderful accuracy (Fig. 27).

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES .

29

The spider hides in this nest when not seeking its prey.
Some species take the precaution to build a branch to their
nest, and to provide this branch with a door. As this door
forms a part of one side of the main tube, it is not likely to
be observed by any creature which may find its way past the
first door of the nest.

Several species of Trap-door Spiders occur in the South¬
ern and Southwestern States.

Family DRASSIDS (Dras'si-das).

The Drassids , or Tube Weavers in part .

There are certain dark-colored spiders that spin no web,
but wander about at night in search of prey, and hide under
leaves and stones during the day-time. Many of them make
silken tubes, in which they hide in winter or while moulting
or laying eggs. Hence they have been termed Tube
Weavers, a name which is also applied to certain other
spiders. We will therefore call the members of this family
the Drassids (Dras'sids).

In this family the body is long, and is usually flattened
above. It is carried near the ground in walking. The legs
are rather short and stout; the second pair are not longer
than the fourth, and the feet
are furnished with only two
claws (Fig. 28). The eyes are
in two nearly straight rows, and
the maxillae are
concave or fur¬
nished with a
furrow (Fig. 29).

One of the

most

Fig. 28.— Foot of
a Drassid.

Fig. 29. — Maxilla
of a Drassid.

Fjg. 30. — Drassus
saccatus.

common
species in the
East is Drassus saccatus (Dras'sus sac-ca'tus) (Fig. 30).
It lives under stones, in a large bag of silk, in which the

30

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

female stays with her egg-sac. In early summer a male and
female live together in the nest.

Family CLUBIONID/E (Clu-bi-on'i-dae).
The Clubtonids, or Tube Weavers in part .

There may be found during summer, in flat tubular
nests on plants, usually in rolled leaves, spiders that spin

no webs to entrap their prey.
These spiders very closely re¬
semble the Drassids in structure,
but are usually lighter in color,
with the legs a little longer and
more slender, and the abdomen
more nearly cylindrical (Fig. 31).

Fig. 3i. — ciubi- Fig. , ..-Maxilla of They are also distinguished by

ona canadensis. a Clubiomd. |-Jie form of the maxillae, which

are convex (Fig. 32). These spiders belong to the family
Clubionidse. As we have no appropriate common name
for these spiders, they may be called the Clubionids (Clu-bi-
on'ids).

During the winter the Clubionids hide under bark or
stones, and make tubular nests in these places.

Family Agalenid^E (Ag-a-len'i-dae).
The Fu fin el-web Weavers.

Even the most careful observers seldom realize what an
immense number of spider-webs are spun upon the grass in
the fields. But occasionally these webs are made visible
in the early morning by the dew which has condensed upon
them. At such times we may see the grass covered by an
almost continuous carpet of silk.

The greater number of the webs seen at such times are
of the form which we term funnel-webs. They consist of a
concave sheet of silk, with a funnel-shaped tube at one side;

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELA TIVES.

31

and numerous lines extending in all directions to the sup¬
porting spears of grass (Fig. 33). The tube serves as a

hiding-place for the owner of the web; from this retreat the
spider runs out on the upper surface of the web to seize any
insect that alights upon it. The tubes open below, near the
roots of the grass; so that the spider can escape from it if
a too formidable insect comes upon the web.

The funnel-web weavers (family Agalenidce) are long-
legged, brown spiders, in which the head part of thecephalo-
thorax is higher than the thoracic part, and distinctly
separated from it by grooves or
marks at the sides. The eyes
are usually in two rows, but
in Agalena the middle eyes of

0 . . . , , Fig. 34. — A galena neevia.

both rows are much higher than

the others. The feet have three claws. The posterior pair

32

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

of spinnerets are two-jointed, and usually longer than the
others.

The common grass spider, which abounds in all parts of
the United States, is Agalena nczvia (Ag-a-le'na nas'vi-a
(Fig. 34).

Family DlCTYNIDiE (Dic-tyn'i-dae).

The Curled-thread Weavers with Irregular Webs.

The Dictynids (Dic-tyn' ids).

Certain spiders are remarkable for using two kinds of
silk in the formation of their webs. Thus, as explained
later, the Orb Weavers build the framework of their orbs of
dry and inelastic threads, and attach to this framework a
thread which is sticky and elastic ; while most spiders which
make irregular webs use only one kind of silk. There are,
however, certain species of irregular web-weavers which use
two kinds of silk. One of these is a plain thread like that
spun by other spiders, and the other is a peculiar curled
thread or a delicate band of tissue in which there are curled
threads.

The curled-thread weavers represent two families, one
of which makes irregular webs; the other, those which are
of definite form. The first of these is the Dictynidcz.

The curled -thread or tissue-like band is made in the
same way by both families. It is composed of silk spun
from a special spinning-organ, situated in front of the
ordinary spinnerets, and named the cribellmn (cri-berium) ;
and is combed into its peculiar form by means of a comb of
stiff hairs, the calamistrum (cal-a-mis'trum), which is borne
by the metatarsus of the hind legs (see page 23). In mak¬
ing the curled thread the spider turns one of its hind legs
under the abdomen so that the calamistrum is just under
the cribellum, and the foot rests on the other hind leg. It
then moves its hind legs back and forth rapidly, so that the
calamistrum combs out from the spinning-tubes, and at the
same time tangles, a band of fine threads.

Fig. 36.— W eb of a Dictynid, on a dead branch of Ceanothus, somewhat enlarged.

on plants. These webs are especially common among the
flowers of Golden-rod and other plants having clusters of

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES. 33

This band of tangled or curled threads is easily seen in
the webs of these spiders, being wider than
the ordinary threads and white in color. In
old webs it becomes conspicuous by the large
amount of dust which it collects. Figure 35
shows the appearance of this band when
magnified, and the way in which it is attached
to the plain threads.

Our more common Dictynids make webs of various
shapes, on fences, under stones, in holes in rotten logs, and

Fig. 35.— Curled
thread of
Dictynid,
larged.

a

en-

34

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

small flowers (Fig. 36), and exhibit a slight degree ol
regularity.

Family Theridiid.® (Ther-i-di'i-dae).

The Cobiueb Weavers.

Many are the kinds of webs spun by different spiders.
Some of them, as the orb-webs and the funnel-webs, delight
us with their wonderful regularity of form ; while others
appear to be a mere shapeless maze of threads. Such are
the structures whose presence in the corners of our rooms
torment thrifty housewives, and which are disrespectfully
termed cobwebs.

The cobweb weavers (Family Theridiidce) are small
spiders with unusually slim legs. The space between the
eyes and the front edge of the head is greater than the

Fig. 37. — Face of Fig. 38.— Foot of spider Fig. 39. — Mtmetus

house spider. with three claws. interfector.

region occupied by the eyes (Fig. 37); the eyes are in two
rows ; and the feet are furnished with three claws (Fig. 38),
This family includes many species, being in fact the largest
of all of the families of spiders. Figure 39 represents a
widely distributed species.

Although the house spiders are the most familiar mem¬
bers of this family, the greater number of species spin their
webs in the fields on bushes. These webs usually consist of
a flat or curved sheet, under which the spider hangs back
downward. This sheet is supported by threads running in
all directions to the neighboring objects. Frequently there
is a large number of these supporting threads above the web,
which serve the additional purpose of impeding the flight of

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES. 35

insects, and causing them to fall into the web, where they
are caught.

Some of these spiders do not remain in their webs, but
have a nest in a neighboring crack or corner, from which
they rush to seize their prey. And sometimes there is a
funnel-shaped tube leading to this nest. But these spiders
differ from the true funnel-web weavers in running back down¬
wards on the lower side of their web.

Family Epeirid^e (E-pei'ri-dae).

The Orb Weavers .

Few if any of the structures built by lower animals are
more wonderful than the nets of orb-weaving spiders, but
these beautiful objects are so common that they are often
considered hardly worthy of notice. If they occurred only
in some remote corner of the earth, every one would read of
them with interest.

The nets of the different species of orb weavers differ in
the details of their structure, but the general plan is quite
similar. There is first a framework of supporting lines. The
outer part of this framework is irregular, depending upon the
position of the objects to which the net is attached; but the
more central part is very regular, and consists of a number
of lines radiating from the center of the net (Fig. 41). All
of these supporting lines are dry and inelastic. But there
is spun upon the radiating lines in a very regular manner a
thread which is sticky and elastic (Fig. 20, p. 23). Usually
this sticky thread is fastened to the radiating lines so as to
form a spiral, but a few species make nets in which this
thread is looped back and forth.

Many of the orb weavers strengthen their nets by spin¬
ning a zigzag ribbon across the center. This ribbon is made
by spreading the spinnerets apart so that the minute threads
from the spinning tubes do not unite to make a single thread,
as is usually the case.

Some of the orb weavers live in their nets hanging head

S6

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

downwards, usually near the center of the net ; others have
a retreat near one edge of the net, in which they hang back

Fig. 41. — Partially completed web of Epeira.

downwards. While resting in these retreats they keep hold
of some of the lines leading from the net, so that they can
instantly detect any jar caused by an entrapped insect.

When an insect in its flight touches one of the turns of
the sticky line, the line sticks to it ; but it stretches so as to
allow the insect to become entangled in other turns of the
line. If it were not for this elasticity of the sticky line, most
insects could readily tear themselves away before the spider
had time to reach them.

In making its web an orb weaver first spins a number of
lines extending irregularly in various directions about the
place where its orb is to be. This is the outer supporting
framework. Often the first line spun is a bridge between
two quite distant points. This is done as described on p. 25.
Having a bridge across the place where the web is to be, it
is an easy matter for the spider to stretch its other lines
where it wishes them. I11 doing this it fastens a thread to
one point, and then walks along to some other point, spin-

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES.

37

ning the thread as it goes, and holding it clear of the object
on which it is walking by means of one of its hind legs.
When the second point is reached the thread is pulled tight
and fastened in place.

After making the outer framework the radiating lines
are formed. A line is stretched across the space so as to pass
through the point which is to be the center of the orb. In
doing this the spider may start on one side, and be forced to
walk in a very roundabout way on the outer framework to
the opposite side. It carefully holds the new line up behind
it as it goes along, so that it shall not become entangled with
the lines on which it walks; one or both hind feet serve as
hands in these spinning operations. The spider then goes
to the point where the centre of the orb is to be, and fast¬
ening another line there, it walk back to the outer frame¬
work, and attaches this line an inch or two from the first.
In this way all of the radiating lines are drawn. The next
step is to stay these radii by a spiral line which is begun at
the center, and attached to each radius as it crosses it. The
turns of this spiral are as far apart as the spider can con¬
veniently reach, except at the center of the web. All of the
threads spun up to this stage in the construction of the web
are dry and inelastic. The spider now proceeds to stretch
upon this framework a sticky and elastic line, which is the
most important part of the web, the other lines being merely
a framework to support it. In spinning the sticky line the
spider begins at the outer edge of the orb, and passing
around it fastens this line to each radius as it goes. Thus a
second spiral is made. The turns of this spiral are placed
quite close together, and the first spiral, which is merely a
temporary support, is destroyed as the second spiral pro¬
gresses. Figure 41 represents a web in which the second
spiral is made over the outer half of the radii. In this fig¬
ure, aa represents the temporary stay-line; bb, the sticky
spiral ; and cc} the fragments of the first spiral hanging from
the radii.

38

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Fig. 42. —
Face of
Epeira.

The orb weavers (Family
Epeiridce) are usually plump
spiders, the abdomen being
large, and often nearly spher¬
ical. The space between the
eyes and front edge of the
head is less than the region

Fjg. 43.— Foot of Epeira.

occupied by the eyes (Fig. 42).

The eyes are arranged in two rows. The front legs are
longer than the others. The feet have three claws (Fig. 43),
and the spinnerets are all short. In some species of this
family the male is much smaller than the female.

Family ULOBORID^E (U-lo-bor'i-dae).

The Curled-thread Weavers with Regular Webs.

The Uloborids ( U-lo-bo'rids ).

We have already described the thread-curling habits of
the Dictynids (p. 32), and the curious organs called cribel-
lum and calamistrum (Fig. 44), by which these curled threads
are made (p. 23). Similar organs and
a similar habit are possessed by the spi¬
ders of the family Uloboridce . These
spiders, however, make webs which are
p.G. 44.-Caiamistrum of reguiar jn form. There are only tw6

genera belonging to this family in the United States ; but
as the webs made by these are very different, we will de¬
scribe both.

The Triangle Spider, Hyptiotes cavatus (Hyp-ti'o-tes ca-
va'tus). — This spider is common all over New England and
the Middle States, and has been found as far to the south¬
west as Texas. Its web is most often found stretched be¬
tween the twigs of a dead branch of pine or spruce. At
first sight this web appears like a fragment of an orb web
(Fig. 45); but a little study will show that it is complete.
The accompanying figure, by Dr. Wilder, who first described

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES .

39

the habits of this spider (see Popular Science Monthly , 1875),
illustrates the form of the web. It consists of four plain
lines corresponding to the radiating lines of an orb web, and
a series of double cross lines, which are spun by the cribel-
lum and calamistrum. From the point where the radiating
lines meet a strong line extends to one of the supporting
twigs. Near this twig the spider rests, pulling the web tight

so that there is some loose line between its legs, as shown in
the enlarged figure. When an insect becomes entangled in
one of the cross lines, the spider suddenly lets go the loose
line so that the whole web springs forward, and the insect is
entangled in other cross threads. The spider then draws
the web tight and snaps it again. This may be repeated
several times before the spider goes out upon the web after
its prey.

Uloborus (U-lob'o-rus). — The spiders of this genus make
round webs which resemble at first sight those of the Orb
Weavers ; but they differ from the ordinary orb webs in that

40

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

the spiral thread is made of curled or hackled silk. These
webs are nearly horizontal, and are usually made between
stones or in low bushes. The spiders of this genus are not
common, but they are widely distributed. They have not,
however, been reported as yet from the Pacific coast.

Family THOMISIDiE (Tho-mis'i-dae).

The Crab Spiders .

There are certain spiders which are called crab spiders,
on account of the short and broad form of the body, and
the curious fact that they can walk more readily sidewise or
backward than forward.

These spiders spin no webs, but lie in wait for their prey.
They live chiefly on plants and fences, and in the winter
hide in cracks and under stones and bark. Most of the spe¬
cies are marked with gray and brown, like the bark upon
which they live. Some species conceal themselves in flow¬
ers, where they lie in wait for their prey. These are brightly
colored, like the flowers they inhabit ; so that insects visiting
flowers may alight within reach of a spider before seeing it.

In this family the legs are turned outward and forward
more than downward ; so that the body is carried close to

#the ground. The second pair of legs are as
long as or longer than the fourth pair. The
? eyes are small, nearly equal in size, and ar¬
ranged in two rows.

¥{uunaH^tiaU' One of the best-known members of this
family is the female of Misumena vatia (Mi-su'me-na va'ti-a).
This is milk-white, with sometimes a light crimson mark on
each side of the abdomen, and is found within flowers
(Fig. 46).

Family LYCOSIDiE (Ly-cos'i-dae).

The Running Spiders .

Every collector of insects who has searched for speci¬
mens under stones and logs is familiar with the large, dark-
:olore<2, hairy spiders often found in these places. These

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES.

41

spiders frequently attract especial attention by dragging
after them a large gray ball (Fig. 47) ; this is the egg-sac,
which the female carries about with her attached to her
spinnerets. These spiders run swiftly ; and as they depend

Fig. 47. — Lycosa and egg-sac.

on the use of their legs for the capture of their prey, they are
well termed Running Spiders.

These spiders resemble in general appearance and in
habits the Tarantulas of the South and the West. But none
of our species attain the great size of some of the Tarantulas,
and in the Running Spiders the claw of the mandibles
moves horizontally instead of vertically.

In this family the body is hairy and usually much longer
than broad. The eyes differ markedly in size, and are
arranged in three or four rows. The larger eyes are not in
the front row. The legs are rather long and quite stout.

Like the Tarantulas, some of the Running Spiders build
tubular nests in the ground,
which they line with silk. Some¬
times the entrance to these nests
is concealed by small sticks and
leaves, and sometimes the spi¬
der builds a regular turret over
the entrance of its tube (Fig. 48).

These nests are used merely as
retreats, the spiders wandering
forth in search of their prey.

The larger members of our
common species belong to the
genus Lycosa (Ly-co'sa). These
drag after them their egg-sacs as described above; and

Fig. 48.— Entrance to nest of Turret
Spider, Lycosa arenicola . (After Marx.)

42

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

when the young hatch they climb on their mother's back,
and are carried about for a time. The females of the genus
Dolomedes (Dol-o-me'des), which also belongs to this family,
carry their egg-sac in their mandibles until the young are
ready to hatch. At this time the mother fastens the egg-
sac in a bush, and spins a web of irregular threads about it,
among which the young spiders remain for a time.

Family Attid/E (At'ti-dae).

The Jumping Spiders.

The Jumping Spiders are of medium size, with a short body
and short stout legs (Fig. 49). They are common on plants,

tlogs, fences, and the sides of buildings. They
are very apt to attract attention by their pecul¬
iar appearance ; their short stout legs, bright
colors, conspicuous eyes, and quick, jumping
movements being very different from those of
t ordinary spiders.

The eyes are arranged in three or four rows ;
Vxnudiiu7 {From front middle pair are the largest, and are
Report onCoK* very conspicuous- These self-possessed spiders
ton insects.) are able to stare an ordinary observer out of
countenance. They move sidewise or backward with great
ease, and can jump a long distance. They make no webs
except nests in which they hide in winter or when moulting
or laying eggs.

In certain members of this family the body is longer
than in the typical forms, and ant-like in appearance.

Order Acarina (Ac-a-ri'na).

The Mites.

In this order the abdomen is unsegmented and fused
with the thorax, giving the entire body a more or less sac-
like appearance. In many the body is marked by numerous

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES .

43

transverse, fine lines, which are so impressed as to appear
like the divisions between minute segments (Fig. 52). The
majority of mites are very small ; but some, as certain Ticks,
are of considerable size.

With the exception of a single family the members of
which bring forth living young, all mites are produced from
eggs. As a rule, the newly-hatched mites have only three
pairs of legs; but a fourth pair are added during growth.
In Phytoptus , which infests plants, there arc only two pairs
of legs.

The mode of life of the different members of this order
varies greatly : some are parasitic upon animals ; others
infest living plants ; and many feed upon dead animal or
vegetable matter, thus acting as scavengers.

Among the mites that are parasitic upon animals are the
various Ticks, which are very common in the
warmer parts of our country. Figure 50 rep¬
resents the Cattle-tick of the Southern States.

It should be remembered in this connection
that the so-called Sheep-tick is a true insect,
belonging to the order Diptera.

The Itch-mite is a well-known parasite, infesting man

and causing the disease known as
the itch. The sensation character¬
istic of this disease is due to the
burrowing of the mites in the skin ;
and the efficiency of sulphur oint¬
ment in checking this disease is
due to the fact that by the use of
Figure 51 represents an itch-mite

\

Parasitic mites are frequently found attached to insects ;
a common species occurs beneath the wings of locusts.

The best known of the mites that infest plants is the one
commonly called the Red Spider. This lives upon house-
plants ; and in the warmer parts of the country, where there

Fig. 50. — The
Cattle-tick, fe¬
male.

Fig. 51. — An
below ;

Itch-mite : a,
b. from above.

from

it the mites are killed,
greatly enlarged.

44

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

is a dry season, it infests fruit-trees in the open air. As it
thrives only in a dry atmosphere, it can be subdued upon
house-plants by a liberal use of water. When it occurs
upon plants in the open air it can be combated with any of
the washes found useful in destroying scale insects.

Some of the mites that infest plants produce galls.
These galls are of various forms, but differ from those pro.
duced by gall-flies (Family Cynipidce of the Order Hymen \
opterci) in having open mouths, from which the young mites
escape.

A common disease of the pear, known as the pear-leaf
blister, is produced by a four-legged mite, Phytoptus pyri
(Phy-top'tus py'ri) (Fig. 52). The blisters characteristic of

Fig. 52 .—Phytoptus pyri, greatly enlarged.

the disease are swellings of the leaf, within which there is a
cavity affording a residence for the mites. Figure 53 repre-

Fig. 53.— Diagram of gall of Phytoptus pyri :
g* gall; n, m, normal structure of leaf ; o , open¬
ing of gall ; e , eggs. (After Soraur).

sents a section of a leaf through one of these galls. Here
the leaf is seen to be greatly thickened at the diseased part.
On the lower side there is an opening through which the
mite that started the gall entered, and from which young

)

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES.

45

unites developed in the gall can escape, in order to start new
galls. In addition to the swelling of both surfaces of the
leaf its internal structure is seen to be modified. In some
parts there is a great multiplication of the cells, and in
others a large part of the cells have been destroyed. Two
eggs of mites are represented in this gall. As the season
advances, and the galls become dry and brownish or black,
the thickening of the leaf becomes less marked. In fact, in
some cases there is a shrinkage of the parts affected. Fig-

Fig. 54. — Section of leaf showing structure of gall in autumn : g, gall ; n , n ,
uninjured part of leaf ; o, opening of gall.

ure 54 represents a section through a leaf collected and
studied in October.

Among the scavenger mites there are some that infest
food products. Thus mites are sometimes found in cheese,
in sugar, and in preserved meats.

Class MYRIAPODA (Myr-iap'o-da).

The Centipedes and the Millipedes.

The members of this class are air-breathing Arthropods , in
which the head is distinct from the thorax , and the thorax
and abdomen form a continuous region, with from six to two
hundred segments, each bearing a pair of legs. The head
bears a single pair of ante nnce.

The thousand-legged worms, as they are commonly
called, are well-known and generally feared creatures. But
few students find them attractive subjects of study ; never¬
theless it is well to know something about them, for some of
them are dangerous animals, and some are harmless. A few
species are injurious to agriculture, while others are to be

46

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

classed among our friends. And all of them are of interest
to the naturalist as representatives of a distinct type of
Arthropods.

If we omit certain small and rather uncommon forms,
the Myriapods may be classed in two orders ; one consisting
of the Centipedes, the other of the Millipedes.

Order Chilopoda (Chi-lop'o-da).

The Centipedes .

The centipedes can be recognized at a glance by the fact
that each segment of the body bears a single pair of legs

(Fig. 55). The body is
usually flattened, and the
antennse are long and many-
jointed.

Many species of centi-
Fig. 55-— a Centipede. pedes are venomous. The

poison glands open through the claws of the first pair of legs,
which are bent forward so as to act with the mouth parts.
These creatures abound in all parts of the United States;
those which are found in the North are comparatively
small, and rarely, if ever, inflict serious injury to man; but
the larger species, which occur in the warmer regions, are
said to extremely venomous.

The centipedes are predaceous, feeding on insects ; they
usually live under stones, logs, and bark. There is one spe¬
cies, Cermatia forceps (Cer-ma'ti-a), which has very long legs,
and only fifteen pairs of them, which is often found running
on the walls of houses, especially in the Southern States.
We have never heard of this centipede biting a human be¬
ing, and as it feeds upon insects, especially cockroaches, it
may be regarded as a welcome visitor in houses.

INSECTS AND THEIR NEAR RELATIVES.

47

Order CHILOGNATHA (Chi-log'na-tha).

The Millipedes .

The millipedes differ from the centipedes in having two
pairs of legs on each of the body segments except the
first three. The body in most of them is not flattened as
with the centipedes, and the antennae are comparatively
short and few jointed (Fig. 56).

Fig. 56. — A Millipede.

The millipedes, as a rule, live in damp places and feed on
decaying vegetable matter. They are harmless, except that
occasionally they feed upon growing plants.

CHAPTER III.

Class Hexapoda (Hex-ap'o-da).

The Insects .

The members of this class are air-breathing Arthropoda ,
with distinct head , thorax , and abdomen. They have one pair
of antenna, three pairs of legs , and usually one or two pairs
of wings in the adult state .

There are about us on every side myriads of tiny crea¬
tures that are commonly passed unnoticed, and even when
observed, they are usually thought to be unworthy of serious
consideration. But all life is linked together in such a way
that no part of the chain is unimportant. Frequently upon
the action of some of these minute beings depends the mate¬
rial success or failure of a great commonwealth. The intro¬
duction and spread of a single species of insect (the Cot-
tony-cushion Scale) in California threatened the destruction
of the extensive orchards of that State ; thousands of trees
perished. The introduction of a few individuals of a partic¬
ular kind of Lady-bug {Vedalia cardinalis ), which feeds upon
this pest and multiplies rapidly, soon checked the evil, and
has nearly removed the pest from the State.

But insects are of interest to us for other reasons than
the influence they may have upon our material welfare ; the
study of them is a fruitful field for intellectual growth. It is
not a small matter to be able to view intelligently the facts
presented by the insect world, to know something of what
is going on around us. And so rich is this field that no one
gains more than a mere smattering concerning it.

48

HEXAPODA.

49

We know as yet comparatively little about the minute
structure of insects ; the transformations and habits of the
greater number of species have not been studied; and the
blood-relationship of the various groups of insects is very
imperfectly understood. If, therefore, one would learn
something of the action of the laws that govern the life and
development of organized beings, and at the same time ex¬
perience the pleasure derived from original investigation, he
cannot find a better field than is offered by the study of in¬
sects.

But it is not necessary that one should have the tastes
and leisure required for careful scientific investigation in
order to profit by this study. It can be made a recreation,
a source of entertainment when we are tired, a pleasant oc¬
cupation for our thoughts when we walk. Any one can find
out something new regarding insect architecture — the ways
in which these creatures build nests for themselves or foi
their young. It is easy to observe remarkable feats of en¬
gineering, examples of foresight, wonderful industry, unre¬
mitting care of young, tragedies, and even war and slavery.

The abundance of insects makes it easy to study them.
They can be found wherever man can live, and at all seasons.
This abundance is even greater than is commonly supposed.
The number of individuals in a single species is beyond com¬
putation : who can count the aphids or the scale-bugs in a
single orchard, or the bees in a single meadow ?

Not only are insects numerous when we regard individ¬
uals, but the number of species is far greater than that of
all other animals taken together. The number of species in
a single family is greater in several cases than the number
of stars visible in a clear night.

The word insect is often applied incorrectly to any mi¬
nute animal ; and even among naturalists there is some lack
of uniformity in its use. Some writers include under this
term the Arachnida and Myriapoda, as well as the Six-footed
Insects. But the great majority of entomologists restrict
5

50

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS .

the term to the Hexapoda, and it is in this sense that we
use it.

The name Hexapoda is from two Greek words : hex, six ;
and pons, foot. It refers to the fact that the members of
this order differ from other Arthropods in the possession of
only six feet.

Insects breath by means of a system of air-tubes (tra¬
cheae) which extends through the body. This is true even
in the case of those that live in water and are supplied with
gill-like organs (the tracheal gills ; see p. 75). The head is
distinct from the thorax, and bears a single pair of antennae;
in these respects they are closely allied to the Myriapods.
But they can be easily distinguished by the number of their
feet, and, usually, also by the presence of wings.

The Metamorphoses of Insects.

Nearly all insects in the course of their lives undergo re¬
markable changes in form. Thus the butterfly, which de¬
lights us with its airy flight, was at one time a caterpillar;
the bee, which goes so busily from flower to flower, lived first
the life of a clumsy, footless grub ; and the graceful fly was
developed from a maggot.

In the following pages considerable attention will be
given to descriptions of the changes through which various
insects pass. It is our wish in this place merely to define
certain terms which are used in describing these changes.

Development without Metamorphosis. — In one of the orders
of insects, the Thysanura, the young insect just hatched
from the egg is of the same form as the adult insect. These
insects merely grow larger, without any more marked change
in form than takes place in our own bodies during our life.
They are said, therefore, to develop without metamorphosis.

Incomplete Metamorphosis. — There are many insects which
undergo a striking change of form during their life* although
the young greatly resembles the adult. Thus a young locust
just out from the egg can be easily recognized as a locust.

HEXAPOD A.

51

It is of course much smaller than the adult, and is not fur¬
nished with wings. Still the form of the body is essentially
the same as that of the adult (Fig. 57). (The hair-line
above the figure indicates the natural size of the insect.)
After a time rudimentary wings appear; and these increase

Fig. 57.— Nymph of Melanoplus , Fig. 58.— Nymph of Melanoplus ,

first stage. (After Emerton.) second stage. (After Emerton.)

Fig. 59. — Nymph of Melanoplus , third stage. Fig. 60.— Nymph of Melanoplus , fourth

(After Emerton.) stage. (After Emerton.)

1 - 1

Fig. 61 —Nymph of Melanoplus , fifth Fig. 62.— Melanoplus, adult,

stage. (After Emerton.)

in size from time to time till the adult state is reached (Figs.
57 to 62). During this development there is no point at
which the insect passes into a quiescent state corresponding
to the chrysalis state of a butterfly. Those insects which,
like the locust, when they emerge from the egg resemble in
form the adult, but still undergo some change, arc said to un¬
dergo an incomplete metamorphosis. In other words, after
leaving the egg they do not undergo a complete change of
form.

Complete Metamorphosis . — Still other insects, like the but-

52 THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

terflies, beetles, bees, and flies, leave the egg in an entirely
different form from that which they assume when they reach
maturity. A butterfly begins its active life as a caterpillar.
It feeds and grows, and when full grown changes to a chrys-
salis. In this stage it has very little resemblance to a cater¬
pillar. After a time there bursts forth from the chrysalis
shell the butterfly, which looks very little like the chrysalis,
and still less like the caterpillar from which it came. In a
similar way, from the egg laid by a fly upon a piece of meat
there hatches, not a fly, but a footless, worm-like maggot.
This when fully grown changes to a quiescent object corre¬
sponding to the chrysalis of a butterfly. Later from this ob¬
ject there escapes a winged fly like that which laid the egg.
Those insects, like the butterflies and flesh-flies, which when
they emerge from the egg bear almost no resemblance in
form to the adult insect, are said to undergo a complete met¬
amorphosis. In other words, the change of form undergone
by the insect is a complete one.

How Insects grow — Molting . — The skin of an insect is hard¬
ened more or less by a horny substance known as chitine
(chi'tine). This hardening usually occurs to a much greater
extent in adult insects than it does in
the young. But in all the skin becomes
so firm that it cannot stretch enough to
allow for the growth of the insect. The
result is, that from time to time an in¬
sect’s skin becomes too small for it, and
must be shed. But before this is done
a new skin is formed beneath the old
one; then the old skin bursts open, and
the insect crawls forth, clothed in a soft
skin, which stretches to accommodate
the increased size of the animal. Very
soon, however, this new skin becomes
hardened with chitine, and after a time
it in turn must be shed. This shedding
of the skin is termed molting , and the cast skin is some-

HEXAPODA.

53

times referred to as the exuvicz (ex-u'vi-ae). Insects differ
greatly as to the number of times they molt : many species
molt only four or five times, while others are known to
molt more than twenty times. Figure 62 a represents the
cast skin of a Dragon-fly clinging to a reed.

The Egg . — This is the first stage in the existence of
any insect, although in some
few instances the egg remains
in the body of the mother till
it hatches. But almost always
the eggs arc laid by the mother
insect on or near the food which
gives nourishment to the young.

Many of the most interesting
habits of insects are connected
with the care of the eggs by
the parent. The eggs may have
smooth oval shells ; but often
the shells are beautifully ribbed f.o.^e^oI c^n-wo™,
and pitted (Fig. 63), and some- on Cotton insects.)
times they are ornamented with spines, and are frequently
exquisitely colored.

The Larva. — This is the second stage of an insect’s life,
and is the form that hatches from the egg. Familiar exam¬
ples of larva; are caterpillars, maggots, and grubs (Fig. 64).

Fig. 64.— A caterpillar, the larva of a moth.

In fact, nearly all the creatures commonly known as worms
are larvae of insects. Away from the ocean we find but few
worms, except earthworms, leeches, “ hair-snakes, and
worm parasites in the intestines of men and animals.
Nearly all the rest, except millipedes and centipedes, are
larvae of insects, and finally change to forms with wings.

54

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The larval stage is devoted to growth/ the sole business
of a larva being to eat and grow. All molting, because of in¬
creased size, is done in the larval stage, later molts are
simply for change of shape.

The Pupa. — This is the third stage in the life of an in¬
sect, and is ordinarily a period of inaction, except that rapid
and wonderful changes go on within the body. Very few
pupae, like those of mosquitoes, are active. Usually pupae

have no power of moving
around, but many of them can
squirm when disturbed. When
the last skin of the larva is
thrown off the pupa is re¬
vealed ; it is an oblong object,

Fig. 65.-A pupa of a large moth. frequently apparently

headless and footless. In many pupae the skin is a shiny
covering like porcelain. If a pupa be examined closely the
antennae and legs and wings may be seen ; these are folded
up closely and soldered to the breast in the case of tne
moths and butterflies (Fig. 65), but free in case of the bees,
ants, and beetles.

The Chrysalis . — This term is often applied to the pupa of
a butterfly. The word is derived from a Greek word mean¬
ing gold, and came into use because of the golden dots and
markings on many of the butterfly pupae.

The Cocoon. — Many larvae, especially those of moths,
when full grown, spin about the body a silken case, so that
when they change to helpless pupae they may be protected
from enemies, and from rain and snow ; these silken cases
are called cocoons. They are frequently made within a
rolled leaves (Fig. 66), or beneath grass and rubbish on the
ground, or in cells below the ground. Some hairy caterpil¬
lars make cocoons largely of their own hairs, which they
fasten together with a film of silk.

The Nymph . — The terms larva and pupa are only ap.
plied to the early stages of those insects that have a com-

HEX A POD A.

55

plete metamorphosis; for in the case of other insects there
is no distinct pupa stage. When reference is made to the
young of an insect that undergoes an incomplete metamor-

Fig. 66.— A large cocoon within a roiled leaf.

phosis it is called a nymph . This term is applied to all
stages of such an insect from the time they hatch from the
egg until they shed their skin for the last time. When a
nymph first hatches it has no signs of wings ; but after it
molts several times two projections appear on each side of
the thorax. These projections become larger and larger,
and more wing-like in form with each successive molt.
Usually the change in the size of these organs, between the
last nymph stage and the adult stage, is much greater than
that of any previous molt. With the nymphs of certain
families, dragon-flies, crickets, grasshoppers, and locusts,
the front pair of developing wings extend back beneath the
hind pair instead of covering them ; and by this inverted
position of the wings the nymphs may be distinguished from
the adults, even in those cases where the adults have only
rudimentary wings.

The Adult . — This is the last stage or the mature form
of the insect. Almost all adult insects except Thysanura
have wings, although there are numerous exceptions to the
rule ; for there are many cases where wings have been lost
through disuse. An insect never grows after it reaches the
adult stage, and therefore never molts. There is a popular
belief that a small fly will grow into a large fly, but this is
not true, for after any insect gets its perfect wings it can

56

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

grow no larger, except that in case of females the body
may be distended by the growth of eggs within it. While
many adults eat more or less, it is only to sustain life, and
not for growth. Indeed, many adult insects take very little
food, and some have lost their mouth-parts entirely, through
disuse. The adult stage usually lasts for a considerably
shorter time than the larval or nymph stages. In fact, it
seems planned in the economy of nature that the grown-up
insects should live only long enough to lay eggs, and thus
secure the perpetuation of the species.

The External Anatomy of Insects.

The subject of insect anatomy is separated into two divi¬
sions : one, treating of the structure of the body-wall or
skeleton; the other, of the internal organs. The former is
termed external anatomy ; the latter, internal anatomy .

In our own bodies we find a central framework or skele¬
ton, about which are arranged the muscles, blood-vessels,
nerves, and other organs. But insects are constructed on
an entirely different plan : with them the supporting skele¬
ton is outside, and the muscles, nerves, and other organs
are within this skeleton. The difference can be well seen
if the figure showing the internal structure of the leg of a
May-beetle (Fig. 67) be compared with one of our own
limbs, either arm or leg.

Fig. 67.— Leg of May-beetle. (After Straus-Durckheim.)

The body of an insect is built on the same plan as are
its legs. The outside of the body is more or less firm, being
hardened by chitine ; and this firm outer wall supports the
muscles and other organs, thus serving as a skeleton. The
skeleton is therefore, in general outline, a hollow cylinder.

HEXAPODA.

57

This hardening of the body-wall is not continuous, but
takes place in a series of more or less regular, ring-like bands,
which give the well-known seg¬
mented appearance characteristic of
insects, and the animals closely Fig. 68. — a Larva,

allied to them. Between the hardened ring-like segments
the body-wall remains soft and flexible. In this way provi¬
sion is made fcr the various motions of
the body. The ring-like nature of the
segments of the body is best seen in
larvae (Fig. 68), and in the hinder part of
an adult insect (Fig. 69). The movements
of the legs, antennae* and certain other
appendages are provided for in the same
way ; each one is a cylinder made up of
several segments, and between these seg¬
ments the wall of the cylinder remains
flexible.

When a single segment of the body is
examined, the hardened portion is not
found to be a continuous ring, but is seen
to be made up of several portions more
Fig. 69.-A Mole Cricket, or less movable upon each other. Such
a hardened portion of the body-wall is termed a sclerite
(scle'rite).

The sclerites constitute the greater part of the body-wall,
the soft membranous portions separating them being in
most cases narrow. Usually these narrow portions are
mere lines; they are then called sutures (sut urs).

Frequently the sutures become entirely effaced. We
are therefore often unable to distinguish certain sclerites in
one species of insect which we know to exist in another.
In such cases the effaced sutures are said to be obsolete .

If the central portion or thorax of an adult insect be
examined, numerous sclerites and sutures can be observed
(Fig. 70).

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

5S

The subject of external anatomy of insects consists very
largely in a study of the sclerites of which the different
segments of the body and of its appendages are composed.
This part of the subject is quite difficult, and will not be
discussed here. It is treated, however, in the discussion of
the characters used in the classification of the Coleoptera
given on pages 499 to 504. These pages should be carefully
studied before attempting to use the table that follows them,

Fig. 70. — Side-view of Locust with wings
removed

Fig. 71.— Wasp, with
head, thorax, and
abdomen separated.

The segments of the body in a fully developed insect are
grouped into three regions: head, thorax, and abdomen
(Fig. 71). In the larval state this grouping of the segments
is not well shown.

The Head and its Appendages.

The head is the first of the three regions of the body.
It is supposed to be formed of several body-segments grown
together ; but entomologists differ in their views as to the
number of segments that have entered into its composition.
The head bears the compound eyes, the simple eyes, the
antennae, and the mouth-parts.

The Compound Eyes. — On each side of
the head of an adult insect is an organ,
which is recognized at once as an eye.
But when one of these eyes is examined
with a microscope it is found to present
an appearance very different from that of
the eye of higher animals ; its surface
a large number of six-sided divisions

Fig. 72. — Part of com-

fiour.d eye, greatly en-
arged.

is divided into

HEXAPODA.

59

(Fig. 72). A study of the internal structure of this
organ has shown that each of these hexagonal divi¬
sions is the outer end of a distinct eye (Fig. 73). Hence
what at first appears to be a single eye is
really an organ composed of hundreds of eyes ;
it is termed, therefore, a compound eye. Each
of the small eyes of which a compound eye is
composed is termed an ommatidium. The
number of ommatidia of which a compound
eye is composed varies greatly : there may
be not more than fifty, as in certain ants, or
there may be many thousand, as in a butter¬
fly or a dragon-fly. Compound eyes are not
found in larvae, though they may possess a
group of simple eyes on each side of the head.

The Simple Eyes . — In addition to the com¬
pound eyes, many adult insects possess simple
eyes. These are situated between the com¬
pound eyes. They vary in number from one
to four; the most common number is three (see
Fig. 71). The simple eyes are usually termed
ocelli; sometimes, stemmata (stem'ma-ta).

When the term ocelli is used in descriptive
works, if there is nothing in the context to Fig n _ Three
indicate the contrary, it is almost invariably

of a May- bee tie.
(After Grenach-
er.) The pig¬
ment has been
dissolved away
from two of
them. F, corneal
facet : K, crystal¬
line cone ; /, pig¬
ment-sheath ; F,
chief pigment¬
cell ; p ", pig¬
ment-cells of the
second order ; R ,
retinulas.

applied to the simple eyes, and not to the ele¬
ments of the compound eyes. In the same
way the term eye usually refers to the com¬
pound eyes, unless otherwise indicated by the
context.

The Antennce . — The antennae are a pair of
jointed appendages inserted in the head in
front of the eyes or between them. They
vary in form. In some insects they are thread-like, consisting
of a series of similar segments; in others certain segments
are greatly modified in form.

oo

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The various forms of antennae are designated by special
terms. The more common of these forms are represented

in Figure 74. These are as follows :

1. Setaceous (se-ta'ceous) or bris¬
tle-like, in which the segments are
successively smaller and smaller, the
whole organ tapering to a point.

2. Filiform (fil'i-form) or thread¬
like, in which each segment is of
nearly uniform thickness throughout
its length; and the antenna as a
whole tapers gradually, if at all, to¬
wards the tip.

3. Moniliform (mo-nil'i-form) or
necklace-form, in which the segments
are more or less globose, suggesting
a string of beads.

4. Serrate (ser'rate) or saw-like,
in which the segments are triangular,
and project like the teeth of a saw.

5. Pectinate (pcc'ti-nate) or comb-like, in which the seg¬
ments have long processes on one side, like the teeth of a
comb, or on both sides, like a feather.

6. Clavate (cla'vate) or club-shaped, in which the seg¬
ments become gradually broader, so that the whole organ
assumes the form of a club.

7. Capitate (cap'i-tate) or with a head, in which the
terminal segment or segments form a large knob.

8. Lamellate (jam'el-late), in which the segments that
compose the knob are extended on one side into broad
plates.

The Mouth-parts . — No set of organs in the body of an in¬
sect vary in form to a greater degree than do the mouth-parts.
Thus with some the mouth is formed for biting, while with
others it is formed for sucking. Among the biting insects
some are predaceous, and have jaws fitted for seizing and

Fig. 74. — Various forms of an¬
tennae.

HEXAPODA „

61

tearing their prey ; others feed upon vegetable matter, and
have jaws for chewing this kind of food. Among the suck¬
ing insects the butterfly merely sips the nectar from flowers,
while the mosquito needs a powerful instrument for piercing
its victim. In this place the typical form of the mouth-
parts as illustrated by the biting insects is described. The
various modifications of it presented by the sucking insects
are described later, in the discussion of the characters of
those insects.

In the biting insects, the mouth-parts consist of an upper
lip, the labrutn (la'brum) (Fig. 75, 8); an under lip, the labium
(la'bi-um) (Fig. 75, 12); and two
pairs of jaws between them. These
jaws open sidewise, instead of in
a vertical direction, as do the
jaws of the higher animals. The
upper pair of jaws are called the
mandibles (mail'd i-bles) (Fig. 75,

10); the lower pair, the maxillce
(max-iTlae) (Fig. 75, n). There
may be also within the mouth
one or two tongue-like organs,
the epipharynx (ep-i-phar'ynx) and
hypopharynx (hy - po - phar'ynx)

(Fig. 7 5> I3)« The epipharynx is

Fig. 75.— Mouth-parts of the Red-
legged Locust.

attached to the upper wall of the cavity of
the mouth, and the hypopharynx to the
lower. The position of the hypopharynx is
quite analogous, therefore, to that of our
tongue.

The mandibles vary much in form, but
usually each consists of a single sclerite.
The maxillae of biting insects, on the other
tic. ^s.-Maxiiia of a hand, are very complicated organs, each com¬
posed of several sclerites. Each maxilla
bears an appendage consisting of several segments ; these

62

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

appendages are termed the maxillary palpi. In the maxillae
of certain biting insects, as the grasshoppers and the ground
beetles, there is an appendage usually consisting of two
segments : this is the galea (ga'le-a) or outer lobe. In some
of these insects, as the ground-beetles and the tiger-
beetles, the galea is shaped like a palpus, and thus there
appears to be two pairs of maxillary palpi (Fig. 76).
The labium is furnished with a pair of jointed appendages ;
these are the labial palpi (Fig. 75, 12, d).

The Thorax and its Appendages.

The thorax is the second or intermediate region of the
body ; it is the region that bears, in the adult insect, the
organs of locomotion, the legs, and the wings when they are
present. This region is composed of three of the body-
segments more or less firmly joined together ; the segments
are most readily distinguished by the fact that each bears a
pair of legs. In winged insects, the wings are borne by the
second and third segments. The first segment of the thorax,
the one next to the head, is named the prothorax ; the
second thoracic segment is the mesothorax ; and the third,

the metathorax.

The Legs. — Each leg consists of the following parts,
beginning with the one next to the body (see Fig. 77):

coxa , trochanter , femur , tibia,
and tarsus. Each of these
parts consists of a single seg¬
ment except that in certain
Hymenoptera the trochanter
consists of two segments (Fig.
77, /), and in most insects the
tarsus consists of several seg¬
ments. The number of seg.
ments of the tarsus varies from
the most common number is five. Frequently
the first segment of the tarsus is much longer than either of

a b c

Fig. 77. — Legs of insects : a. Wasp ; 5,
Ichne\imon-fly; c , Bee ; t, trochanter;
in, metatarsus.

one to six

HEXAPODA.

63

the other segments, and it may also differ greatly in form
from them ; under such circumstances it is sometimes desig¬
nated the metatarsus (met-a-tar'sus) (Fig. 77, ;//). The last
segment of the tarsus usually bears one or two claws.

On the ventral surface of the segments of the tarsus in
many insects are cushion-like structures ; these are called
pulvilli (pul-vil-li). The cuticle of the pulvilli is traversed by
numerous pores which open either at the surface of the cuticle
or through hollow hairs, the tenent hairs , and from which ex¬
udes an adhesive fluid that enables the insect to walk on the
lower surface of objects.

The wings. — The two pairs of wings are borne by the
mesothorax and metathorax ; the prothorax never bears
wings.

In form, an insect's wing is a large membranous append¬
age, which is thickened along certain lines. These thickened
lines are termed the veins or nerves of the wing ; and their
arrangement is described as the venation or neuration of the
wings. The thin spaces of the wings which are bounded by
the veins are called cells . When a cell is completely sur¬
rounded by veins it is said to be closed ; but when it extends
to the margin of the wing it is said to be open .

The wings of different insects vary greatly in structure,
and thus afford excellent distinctions for the purposes of
classification. The various parts of the wing have, there¬
fore, received special names. There is considerable lack of
uniformity among entomologists as to the names applied to
these parts ; but we have adopted the set of terms defined
below as representing the best usage.

An insect's wing is more or less triangular in outline ; it
therefore presents three margins : the costal margin , or costa
(Fig. 78, a , li) ; the outer margin (Fig. 78, b, c) ; and the inner
margin (Fig. 78, c, d).

The angle at the base of the costal margin (Fig. 78, a) is
the humeral angle (hu'me-ral) ; that between the costal mar¬
gin and the outer margin (Fig. 78, b) is the apex of the wing ;

□4

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

and the angle between the outer margin and the inner mar¬
gin (Fig. 78, c ) is the a7ial a?igle (a'nal).

There have been many different sets of names applied to
the veins of the wings. Not only have the students of each

Fig. 78. — Fore wing of a butterfly with the veins and cells numbered.

order of insects had a peculiar nomenclature, but in many
cases different students of the same order of insects have
used different sets of terms. This condition of affairs was
incident to the beginning of the science, the period before
the correspondence of the veins in the different orders had
been worked out. But now the time has come when it seems
practicable to apply a uniform nomenclature to the wing veins
of all orders; and the following set of terms is proposed for
that purpose.

The principal veins of the wing, those that arise at or
near the base of the wing, are termed, beginning with the
one lying on the costal margin, the costa (cos'ta), the subcosta ,
the radius (ra'di-us), the media (me'di-a), the cubitus (cu'bi-
tus), and the anal veins . The radius, media, and cubitus are
usually branched, and there may be several anal veins.

In addition to the principal or longitudinal veins, there
may be a greater or less number of cross-veins — veins extend¬
ing transversely from one longitudinal vein to another.

HEXAPODA .

65

The principal veins may be designated by numbers as well
as by names ; the following table indicates the correspondence
of the names and numbers :

Cubitus = vein VII.

1st anal vein = vein VIII.
2d anal vein = vein IX.

3d anal vein = vein XI.

Costa = vein I.
Subcosta = vein II.
Radius = vein III.
Media = vein V.

It was formerly believed that in certain insects three other
longitudinal veins were present ; these were numbered IV, VI,
and X respectively ; hence these numbers are omitted in the
above table.

At the time the first edition of this book was written, it was
thought best to designate the veins by numbers; and conse¬
quently numbers are used in the following pages much more
generally than are the names of the veins. But owing to a
lack of uniformity in the numbering of the veins by different
writers, it is now clear that the names are to be preferred. In

Fig. 79. — Diagram representing the typical arrangement of the wing-veins, includ¬
ing the four more important cross-veins: /6, numeral cross-vein; r-m , radio-
medial cross-vein ; m, medial cross-vein ; m-cu, medio-cubital cross-vein.

the lettering of figures abbreviations of the names can be used
as is done in Figure 79.

The divisions of a branched vein are numbered, beginning
with the one nearest the costal margin of the wing ; and
these numbers are indicated by sub-figures. For example,

6

66

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

the five branches of the typical radius, or vein III, are
designated either thus, Ru R2, R3, R4, R5 ; or thus, mu
III2, Ills, III4, Ills-

When two or more branches of a branched vein coalesce,
the compound vein is designated by an expression indicating
this coalescence, as III2+8 or R2+8. In this way it is possible to
indicate some of the changes that have taken place in the de¬
velopment of the species; and to make use of them in working
out the classification of the group to which the species belongs.

The cells of the wing are designated by applying to each
the number or the abbreviation of the name of the vein that
forms its cephalic (front) margin. In Figure 78 the veins are
designated by numbers at the margin of the figure ; the cells
by numbers within the figure. When a cell is divided by a
cross-vein the parts are numbered, as in the case of cell V2 in
Figure 497, page 422.

The Abdomen and its Appendages.

The abdomen is the third or caudal region of the body.
Its segments are more simple, distinct, and ring-like than
those of the other regions. The number of segments of
which it appears to be composed varies greatly. In the
Cuckoo-flies ( Chrysidida ) there are usually only three or four
visible, while in many other insects nine appear. Except in
the lowest order of insects ( Thysanura ) the abdomen of the
adult bears no locomotive appendages. But many larvae
have fleshy appendages which aid in locomotion : these are
termed prolegs . In the adult the end of the body in many
families is furnished with jointed filaments — the cerci} and
caudal setcz. Frequently also the body is furnished in the
male with organs for clasping— the claspers ; and in the female
with saws, pierces, or borers — the ovipositor . In the female of
certain insects there is a sting , a modified ovipositor, which
is used as an organ of defence ; and the abdomen of plant-
lice and certain other insects bears a pair of tubes or tuber-

HEXAPODA.

67

cles, through which a waxlike material is excreted : these
are commonly called honey-tubes ; they are also termed
cornicles , nectaries , or siphuncles ; see page 157.

The Internal Anatomy of Insects,

(For advanced students .)

As has been shown in the preceding pages, the body-wall serves
as a skeleton, being hard, and giving support to the other organs of
the body. This skeleton may be represented, therefore, as a hollow
cylinder. We have now to consider the arrangement and the general
form of the organs contained in this cylinder. For the details of the
structure of th . internal organs the student is referred to more special
works.

The accompanying diagram (Fig. 80), which represents a vertical,
longitudinal section of the body, will enable the student to gain an idea
of the relative position of some of the more important organs. The
parts shown in the diagram are as follows: The body-wall, or skeleton

Fig. 80.— Diagram showing the relation of the internal organs.

(s); this is made up of a series of overlapping segments ; that part of it
between the segments is thinner, and is not hardened with chitine,
thus remaining flexible and allowing for the movements of the body.
Just within the body-wall, and attached to it, are represented a few of
the muscles (m) ; it will be seen that these muscles are so arranged
that the contraction of those on the lower side of the body would
bend it down, while the contraction of those on the opposite side
would act in the opposite direction. The alimentary canal (a) occu¬
pies the centre of the body, and extends from one end to the other.
The heart (//) is a tube open at both ends, and lying between the
alimentary canal and the muscles of the back. The central part of
the nervous system (u) is a series of small masses of nervous matter
connected by two longitudinal cords: one of these masses, the brain,
lies in the head above the alimentary canal ; the others are situated,

68

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

PLATE II.

A Caterpillar sCossus I ign i per da).

(After Lyonet.)

FlG. i.~-Caterpillar opened on the ventral middle line. Fig. 2. — Caterpillar opened op
the dorsal middle line. _ 1, principal longitudinal tracheae ; 2, central nervous syj>
tem : 3, aorta; 4, longitudinal dorsal muscles; 5, longitudinal ventral muscles*
6, wings of the heart; 7, tracheal trunks arising near spiracles; 8, reproductive
organs ; 9, vertical muscles; io, last abdominal ganglion.

HEX A P OD A .

69

one in each segment, between the alimentary canal and the layer of
muscles of the ventral side of the body ; the two cords connecting
these masses, or ganglia, pass one on each side of the oesophagus to
the brain. The reproductive organs (r) lie in the cavity of the abdo¬
men and open near the caudal end of the body. The respiratory
organs are omitted from this diagram for the sake of simplicity.

The Muscular System . — We find in insects a wonderfully large
number of muscles. Those that move the segments of the body form
several layers just wit.iin the body-wall. The two figures on Plate II
represent two caterpillars which have been split open lengthwise, one
on the middle line of the back and one on the opposite side ; in each
case the alimentary canal has been removed, so that only those organs
that are attached quite closely to the body-wall are left. From a study
of these figures some idea can be obtained of the number and arrange¬
ment of these muscles. It should be borne in mind, however, that
only a single layer of muscles is represented in these figures — the layer
which would be seen if a caterpillar were opened in the way indicated.
When these muscles are cut away many other muscles are found ex¬
tending obliquely in various directions between these muscles and the
body-wall.

The muscles of insects appear very differently from those (the lean
meat) of higher animals. In insects the muscles are either colorless
and transparent, or yellowish white ; and they are soft, almost of a
gelatinous consistence. When hardened by alcohol or otherwise, and
examined with a microscope, they are seen to be crossed by numerous
transverse lines, like the voluntary muscles of Vertebrates.

As a rule, the muscles of insects are composed of an immense
number of distinct fibres, which are not enclosed in tendinous sheaths
as with Vertebrates. But the muscles that move the appendages ol
the body are furnished with a tendon at the end farthest from the
body (Fig. 81).

Fig. 8i.— Leg of May-beetle. (After Straus-Durcklieim.)

Notwithstanding the soft and delicate appearance of the muscles
of insects, they are leally very strong. One has only to observe the
power of leaping possessed by many species to be convinced of this.

JO

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

PLATE III.

A Cockroach ( Periplaneta orientalis).

(From Rolleston).

a, antennae; b\. 62, £3, tibiae; c, anal cerci ; d, ganglion on recurrent nerve upon the
crop ; e , salivary duct : y, salivary bladder; g, gizzard ; l \ , hepatic coeca; 1 , chylinc
stomach : j\ Malpighian vessels; k, small intestine; /, large intestine ; tn , rectum;
ft- first abdominal ganglion ; o, ovary ; /, sebaceous glands.

HEXAPODA.

71

And the rapidity of their action is even more wonderful than their
strength. This rapidity is best illustrated by the muscles that move
the wings. Every one has observed gnats and other Hies poising in mid
air by a movement of the wings so rapid that the eye cannot follow it.
Physicists have been able, however, to count these vibrations by de¬
termining the pitch of the musical note produced in this way. And
they tell us that certain gnats vibrate their wings 15,000 times per
second.

The Alimentary Canal. — The typical position of this is represented
in the diagram (Fig. 80); and on Plate III, illustrating the anatomy
of a cockroach, its form in that insect is shown. In larvae it is a
nearly straight tube, extending from one end of the body to the other.
But in adult insects it is usually much longer than the body, and is
consequently more or less folded. It is composed of parts differing
in form and use. To these parts names have been given similar to
those used to designate the corresponding parts in higher animals ;
thus we distinguish a pharynx, an cesophagns , sometimes a crop , some-
times a gizzard , a stomach , a small intestine , and a large intestine .

The Adipose Tissue , or Fat— On opening the body of an insect,
especially of a larva, one of the most conspicuous things to be seen is
fatty tissue, in large masses. These often completely surround the
alimentary canal, and are held in place by numerous branches of the
tracheae with which they are supplied. Other and smaller masses of
this tissue adhere to the inner surface of the abdominal wall, in the
vicinity of the nervous system, and at the sides of the body. In a full-
grown larva of Corydalis cornuta I have found the adipose tissue to
be greater in bulk than all of the other organs found inside of the
muscular walls of the body. In adult insects it usually exists in much
less quantity than in larv®.

The Blood-vessels.— In insects all parts of the body cavity that are
not occupied by the internal organs are filled with blood.

Thus the alimentary canal is completely surrounded with
blood, and all the spaces between the muscles are filled
by this fluid. This is a very different arrangement from
what occurs in our own body, where the blood is con¬
tained in a system of tubes, the arteries and the veins.

We find, however, that insects are not entirely deprived of
blood-vessels. For there is one which lies above the ali¬
mentary canal, just within the middle line of the back.

See Figure 80, //, and Plate II, 1. This extends from near
the caudal end of the abdomen through the thorax into
the head. That part of this system that lies in the abdomen

Fig. 82. — Dia¬
gram of a
part of the
heart of a
May-beetle.

72

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

is usually termed the heart. This is a somewhat complicated organ
consisting of several chambers arranged in
series, and each communicating with the
one in front of it by an opening fur¬
nished with valves. The number and form
of these chambers differ in different in¬
sects. Fig. 82 represents the heart of a
May - beetle. These chambers not only
communicate with each other, but com¬
municate with the body-cavity by means
of side openings, which are also furnished
with valves. These two sets of valves act
in such a way that when a chamber of the
heart contracts a stream of blood is forced
towards the head, and when it expands the
blood rushes into it through the side open¬
ings, and from the chamber behind it. At¬
tached to the lower surface of the heart
and extending out to the side of the body
there is on each side a series of triangular
muscles: these have been termed the wings
^UfterStrawOurelScSn^1', of the heart. (Plate II, 6, and Fig. 83. c).

tateriir“Pf'Cheart "showing In Figure * they are represented cut away
valves ; c. ventral aspect of from the caudal part of the heart. The
heart and wing-muscles— the . , ,. . ,

muscles are represented as prolongation of the heart, which extends

part^^eheart1;^ dorsal through the thorax and into the head, is
aspect of heart. termed the aorta.

The blood is forced by the heart through the aorta into the head,
where it escapes into the body cavity. From this point it flows
through the body cavity in regular streams, which have definite di¬
rections, but which are not included in vessels. They, like the ocean
currents, are definite streams with liquid shores.

The blood is usually colorless, or slightly tinged with green ; but
its circulation is made conspicuous by the movements of the large
corpuscles with which it abounds. In transparent insects it can be
seen pouring forth from the cephalic end of the aorta, bathing first
the brain, and then passing to all parts of the body, even out Into the
appendages. By tracing the course of any one of these currents it
will be found to flow, sooner or later, to the cavity between the wings
of the heart and the back in which the heart rests, and from which it
receives its blood.

The Nervous System.— The central part of the nervous system, as

HEXAPODA .

73

already indicated, consists of a ganglion in the head above the oesoph¬
agus, and of a series of ganglia, typically one for each segment of
the body, lying on the floor of the body cav¬
ity, and connected by two longitudinal cords.

In the head, one of these cords passes on
each side of the oesophagus, from the brain
to another ganglion in the head below the
oesophagus, thus forming a nervous collar
about the alimentary canal. From each
ganglion nerves arise, which supply the ad¬
jacent parts; and from the thoracic ganglia
nerves extend to the legs and wings. This
series of ganglia is really a double one; but
each pair of ganglia arc more or less closely
united on the middle line of the body, and
often appear as a single ganglion. Figure 84
gives a general view of the nervous system of
Corydalis cornuta. From the brain (a) two
large nerves extend to the compound eyes,
and a smaller pair to the antennae; the sub-
oesophageal ganglion (/;) supplies the mouth-
parts with nerves ; and each of the thoracic
and abdominal ganglia supplies its segment
of the body.

How Insects Breathe — The Respiratory System. — A common mis¬
take made by beginners in the study of Entomology is to suppose
that insects breathe through the mouth as do the higher animals.
Many a beginner has carefully poured chloroform on the head of an
insect in the expectation of killing it in that way, and has been sur¬
prised at his poor success.

The truth is, insects breathe through their sides. If an insect be
carefully examined, there can be found along the sides of the body a
series of openings (Fig. 85). These are the openings through which

Fig. 85. — Side-view of Locust with wings removed.

the air passes into the respiratory system and are termed spiracles
(spir'a-cles).

Fig. 84.— Nervous system of
Corydalis. (After Leidy.)

74

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The number of spiracles varies greatly in different insects. There
is, however, never more than one pair on a single segment of the
body. They do not occur on the head, but are borne by each of the
thoracic segments, and by the first eight abdominal segments. Thus
there are eleven segments that may bear spiracles, but they are
always lacking on some one or more of these.

These spiracles are either simple openings into the respiratory
system, or are provided with valves, sieves, or fringes of hair for the
exclusion of dirt. They lead into a system of air-tubes termed tra¬
chea (tra'che-se). The accompanying figures will indicate the distri¬
bution of the main trunks of these tracheae in a cockroach (Figs. 86 and

Fig. 86. — Tracheal system of Cockroach. Fig. 87. — Tracheal system of Cockroach.
The dorsal integument removed and the The alimentary canal removed to show

alimentary canal in place. (After Miall the ventral tracheal communications,

and Denny.) (After Miall and Denny.)

87). There is a short trunk arising from each spiracle ; these are all
connected together by a large longitudinal trunk on each side of the
body, and by numerous transverse trunks. From these large tracheas
there arise a great number of smaller ones, not shown in the figures,
which branch and subdivide, and extend to all parts of the body. When
one dissects an insect the viscera are found to be connected together
by the ramifications of these tracheae, so that in order to remove any
organ it is necessary to cut some of them. The smaller branches of
the tracheae are exceedingly minute, and are intimately associated
with the various tissues. By means of these fine tracheal trunks the
air is carried to the tissues ; hence the blood plays a much smaller
part in respiration than it does in the Vertebrates.

Although insects are, strictly speaking, air-breathing animals,
many of them, as is well known, live in the water. The study of the
ways in which aquatic insects breathe is a very interesting one ; it

HEXAPODA.

7 5

presents to us many wonderful modifications of structure. Some of
the more common of these are described in subsequent pages of this
book ; in this place we can only make a few generalizations.

The various modes of respiration of aquatic insects may be classi¬
fied under two heads : first, those in which the insects obtain air
from above the surface of the water; second, those in which the
insects breathe the air that is mechanically mixed with the water.

With many aquatic insects the spiracles open beneath the wings,
which are folded upon the abdomen. The insect, by coming to the
surface of the water and lifting the tip of its wings, forms a cavity be¬
neath them, into which the air rushes. The insect can then swim
through the water, carrying this air with it in a position where it can
be respired. When the air becomes impure, the insect rises to the
surface, forces out the air from beneath its wings, and takes in a new
supply. Water-beetles and aquatic bugs afford familiar examples of
this mode of respiration.

Some insects are provided with long tubes connected with their
spiracles, by means of which they can draw their supply of air from
above the surface of the water while they crawl upon the bottom of
shallow ponds. Our most common illustrations of this are bugs of
the family Nepidce\ but the most remarkable development of this
kind is exhibited by certain Dipterous larvae of the family Syrphidce ,
known as Rat-tailed Maggots.

Although there are many insects that live in the water and draw
their supply of air from above it, the greater number of aquatic
insects breathe, as do fishes, the air that is mixed with the water.
This is accomplished by organs known as tracheal gills . These are
hair-like or more or less plate-like expansions of the body- wall,
abundantly supplied with tracheae (Fig. 88). These tracheae
divide and subdivide, and their terminationsor fine branches
are separated from the water that bathes the organ only by
its thin walls. In this way the air contained in the tracheae
is separated from the air in the water only by a delicate
membrane, which admits of the transfer of gases between
them. It win be observed that the difference between a
tracheal gill and a true gill (as of fishes, Crustacea, etc.) is
that the true gill is supplied with vessels containing bloody
which is purified by being brought in contact with the air
in the water, while the tracheal gill is supplied with tracheae
containing air to be purified.

Tracheal gills are usually borne by the abdomen, some¬
times by the thorax, and in case of one genus of Stone-flies by the

Fig. 88.—
Tracheal
pill of
Agrion.

76

THE STUDY OF INSECTS

head. They pertain almost exclusively to the immature stages of
insects ; but Stone-flies of the genus Pteronarcys retain them through¬
out their existence.

Tracheal gills vary greatly in form; in Corydalis they are hair-like,
and occur in tufts near the lateral margins of the abdominal seg¬
ments; in the Cadd ice-worms they are thread-like, more or less
branched, and irregularly distributed over the surface of the abdo¬
men ; and in certain Dragon-flies they are in the form of large plate¬
like caudal appendages. (Fig. 88.)

The Reproductive Organs. — The reproductive organs are situated
in the abdomen, as represented in Figure 80. There is a set on each
side of the body ; but the two sets usually open by a common tube
near the caudal end of the body. In the May-flies and in the Ear¬
wigs, however, the reproductive organs of each side have a distinct
opening. Thus May-flies are often found with two bunches of eggs
projecting from the caudal end of the body.

All insects are developed from eggs ; but there are some appar¬
ent exceptions. Thus many flies retain their eggs until after they
are hatched, if a proper place for laying them is not found earlier;
and in some flies (the Pupipara) the young attain a considerable de¬
velopment before they are born. In the Plant-lice {Aphid idee) there
is a remarkable alternation of reproduction by budding with the
sexual reproduction. This is described more fully in the account of
that family.

The Orders of the Hexapoda.

( For advanced students.)

The Class Hexapoda, or Insects, is divided in this work into nine¬
teen orders. This number is somewhat greater than what has been
commonly adopted heretofore. But we believe that in the earlier
classifications forms were brought together in the same order that
are not closely related, and that consequently the present classifica¬
tion represents better the true relationship of the groups of insects.

There has been some hesitation on the part of many entomolo¬
gists in adopting this division of certain of the old orders, merely for
the reason that they felt that the old classification was simpler. But
we do not share in this feeling. It seems to us that it is easier for
the student to learn the characters of a large number of well-defined
groups than it is to learn those of a smaller number of vaguely-
defined groups.

HEXAPODA .

77

In arranging the orders in a linear series, as must be done in a
book, it is impossible to indicate in a satisfactory way either the rela¬
tion of the orders to each other or the relative rank of the orders.
An effort is made to place near together closely allied orders, and to
treat first those that are more simple or primitive or generalized in
structure, and last those that are more specialized. But this plan
could be fully carried out only by having several parallel columns on
the pages of the book, each representing a distinct line of descent,
an arrangement which, to say the least, is impracticable.

What has been done in this work is to place first the Thysanura,
which is doubtless the most primitive order. Then follow first the
orders that undergo an incomplete metamorphosis, and last, those
that undergo a complete metamorphosis. Within these two groups of
orders those with biting mouth-parts are placed first, and these are
followed by those with sucking mouth-parts, except that in the
second group the Coleoptera and Hymenoptera are placed last for
want of a better position. We do not intend to indicate by this that
these two orders are closely related, or that they are more specialized
than the Diptera.

In fact, with regard to at least five of the orders of insects (Hemip-
tera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera), it seems
idle to us to discuss which is the more highly specialized. Each has
been specialized in a direction peculiar to itself ; and to attempt to
describe which is the “highest " seems as futile as the discussion by
children of the question : “ Which is better, sugar or salt? ”

We give below a table for use in classifying specimens. This table
is merely intended to aid the student in determining to which of the
orders a specimen that he is examining belongs. No effort has been
made to indicate in the table the relation of the orders to each other.

TABLE FOR DETERMINING THE ORDERS OF HEXAPODA.*

( This table includes only adult insects.)

A. Wingless or with rudimentary wings.

B. Mandibles and maxillae retracted within the cavity of the head
so that only their apices are visible, p. 82 . Thysanura.

BB. Mandibles and maxillae more or less prominent and fitted for
biting. (See BBB also.)

C. Head with long, trunk-like beak. ( Boreus .) p. 184.

Mecoptera.

* See note at bottom of p. 10.

7»

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

CC. Head not prolonged into a trunk.

D. Louse-like insects of small size ; body less than one-sixth
inch in length.

E. Antennae with not more than five segments. (Bird-lice.)

p. ioo . Mallophaga.

EE. Antennae with many segments. (Book-lice.) p. 98.

CORRODENTIA.

DD. Insects of various forms, but not louse-like, and, except
in the case of some ants, with the body more than one-sixth
inch in length.

E. Abdomen with short, conical, compressed, many-jointed
caudal appendages. ( Cockroaches .) p. 104...ORTHOPTERA.
EE. Abdomen without jointed caudal appendages.

F. Legs fitted for jumping. {Wingless Locusts, Grasshop¬
pers, and Crickets.) p. 104 . ORTHOPTERA.

FF. Legs fitted for running,

G. Abdomen broadly joined to thorax.

H. Body linear. {Walking-sticks.) p. 104.

ORTHOPTERA.

HH. Body white and somewhat ant-like in form.

( Termes .) p. 95 . ISOPTERA.

HHH. Body neither linear nor ant-like in form.

( Wingless Fire fly et al.) p. 494 . COLEOPTERA.

GG. Base of abdomen strongly constricted. {Ants et al.)

p. 599 . * . Hymenoptera.

BBB. Mouth-parts formed for sucking.

C. Small abnormal insects in which the body is either scale-like
or gall-like in form, or grub-like and clothed with wax. The
waxy covering may be in the form of powder, of large tufts or
plates, of a continuous layer, or of a thin scale, beneath which

the insect lives. {Cocci dee.) p. 121 . Hemiptera.

CC. Body more or less covered with minute scales, or with
thick long hairs. Prothorax not free {i.e., closely united with
the mesothorax). Mouth-parts usually consisting of a long

“tongue” rolled beneath the head. p. 191 . Lepidoptera.

CCC. Body naked, or with isolated or bristle like hairs.

D. Prothorax not well developed, inconspicuous or invisible
from above. Tarsi five-jointed. Mouth-parts developed
into an unjointed trunk; palpi present, p. 413. . . . Diptera.
DD. Prothorax well developed.

E. Body strongly compressed ; tarsi five-jointed. {Fleas.)
p. 49° . Siphon aptera.

HEXAPODA .

79

EE. Body not compressed ; tarsi one-, two , or three-jointed.
F. Last joint of tarsi bladder-like or hoof-like in form and
without claws ; mouth-parts forming a triangular, un¬
jointed beak; palpi present, p. 119 . Physopoda.

FF. Last joint of tarsi not bladder-like, and furnished with
one or two claws ; mouth-parts forming a slender, usually
jointed beak; palpi apparently wanting, p. 121.

Hemiptera.

A A. Winged. (The wing-covers, efy/rp, of beetles and of earwigs
are wings.)

B. With two wings.

C. Wings horny, leathery, or parchment-like.

D. Mouth-parts formed for sucking. Wings leathery, short¬
ened, or membranous at the tip. p. 121 . Hemiptera.

DD. Mouth-parts formed for biting. Jaws distinct.

E. Wings horny, without veins. Hind legs not fitted for

jumping, p. 494 . . Coleoptera.

EE. Wings parchment-like, with a network of veins. Hind

legs fitted for jumping, p. 104 . ORTHOPTERA.

CC. Wings membranous.

D. Abdomen with caudal filaments. Mouth-parts rudimentary.

E. Halteres wanting, p. 86 . Ephemerida.

EE. Halteres present (males of Coccidce). p, 12 1. Hemiptera.
DD. Abdomen without caudal filaments. Halteres in place of
second wings. Mouth-parts formed for sucking, p. 413.

Dipt era.

BB. With four wings.

C. The two pairs of wings unlike in structure.

D. Front wings leathery at base, and membranous at tip, often
overlapping. Mouth-parts formed for sucking, p.121.

Hemiptera.

DD. Front wings of same texture throughout.

E. Front wings horny or leathery, being veinless wing-
covers. (. Elytra .)

F. Abdomen with caudal appendages in form of movable

forceps, p. 102 . Euplexoptera.

FF. Abdomen without forcep-like appendages, p. 494.

Coleoptera.

EE. Front wings leathery or parchment-like, with a network
of veins.

F. Under wings not folded. Mouth-parts formed for suck¬
ing. p. 121 . Hemiptera.

8o

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

FF. Under wings folded lengthwise. Mouth-parts formed

for biting, p.104 . Orthoptera.

CC. The two pairs of wings similar, membranous.

D. Last joint of tarsi bladder-like or hoof-like in form and

without claws, p. 1 19 . . Ph ysopoda.

DD. Last joint of tarsi not bladder-like.

E. Wings entirely or for the greater part clothed with scales.

Mouth-parts formed for sucking, p. 191.. . LEPIDOPTERA.
EE. Wings naked, transparent, or thinly clothed with hairs.

F. Mouth-parts arising from the hinder part of the lower
surface of the head, and consisting of bristle-like organs
inclosed in a jointed sheath. (Homo fit era?) p. 121.

Hemiptera.

FF. Mouth-parts in normal position. Mandibles not
bristle-like.

G. Wings net-veined, with many veins and cross-veins.

H. Tarsi consisting of less than five segments.

I. Antennae inconspicuous, awl-shaped, short and
slender.

J. First and second pairs of wings nearly tha
same length ; tarsi three-jointed, p. 89.

Odonata.

JJ. Second pair of wings either small or wanting;
tarsi four-jointed, p. 86 . Ephemerida

II. Antennae usually conspicuous, setiform, filiform
clavate, capitate, or pectinate.

J. Tarsi two- or three-jointed.

K. Second pair of wings the smaller, p. 98.

Corrodentia.

KK. Second pair of wings broader, or at least
of the same size as the first pair. p. 93.

Plecoptera.

JJ. Tarsi four-jointed ; wings equal, p. 95.

Isoptera.

HH. Tarsi consisting of five segments.

I. Abdomen with setiform, many-jointed anal fila¬
ments. ( Certain May-flies.) p. 86. Ephemerida.

II. Abdomen without many-jointed anal filaments.
J. Head prolonged into a trunk-like beak.

p. 184 . Mecoptera.

J. Head not prolonged into a beak. p. 175.

Neuroptera.

HEX A POD A.

8l

GG. Wings with branching veins and comparatively few
cross-veins, or veinless.

H. Tarsi two- or three-jointed.

I. Posterior wings smaller than the anterior,

p. 98 . CORRODENTIA.

II. Posterior wings as large as or larger than the
anterior ones. (Certain Stone-flies .) p. 93.

Plecoptera.

HH. Tarsi four- or five-jointed.

I. Abdomen with setiform, many-jointed anal fila¬
ments. (Certain May-flies .) p. 86. Ephemerida.

II. Abdomen without many-jointed anal filaments.
J. Prothorax horny. First wings larger than the

second, naked or imperceptibly hairy. Second
wings without, or with few, unusually simple,
veins. Jaws (mandibles) well developed. Palpi

small, p. 599 . Hymenoptera.

JJ. Prothorax membranous or, at the most,
parchment-like. Second wings as large as or
larger than the first, folded lengthwise, with
many branching veins. First wings naked or
thinly clothed with hair. Jaws (mandibles) in¬
conspicuous. Palpi long. Moth-like insects,
p. 186 . Trichoptera.

LIST OF ORDERS OF THE HEXAPODA.

Hemiptera.

Neuroptera.

Mecoptera.

Trichoptera.
Lepidoptera.

Diptera.

SlPHONAPTERA.
Coleoptera.
Hymenoptera.

Thysanura.

Ephemerida.

Odonata.

Plecoptera.

Isoptera.

Corrodentia.

Mallophaga.

Euplexoptera

Orthoptera.

Physopoda.

7

CHAPTER IV.

Order Thysanura (Thys-a-nu'ra).

Bristle-tails , Spring-tails , Fish-moths , and others .

77z^ members of this order are wingless insects which
undergo no metamorphosis , the larval form being retained by
the adult . The mandibles and maxillce are retracted within
the cavity of the head, so that only their tips are visible ; they
have , however , freedom of motion , *72/* be used for

biting and chewing soft substances. True compound eyes are
rarely present ; but in some genera there is a group of simple
eyes on each side of the head \ The abdomen is sometimes
furnished with rudimentary legs .

Under stones and decayed leaves and wood, in the chinks

of bark, amongmoss, in damp
places, on snow or on pools,
or sometimes in houses, are
the members of this order to
be found. They are for the
most part very small insects,
but sometimes they are nu¬
merous and lively enough to
make up for their lack in
size. They have no wings,
^-3 but they can either run very

mobryidee. (Drawn by J. M. Stedman, f^St 0T jump Very far. Their
under the author’s direction.) 8, labrum; . 1 „

10, mandible; n, maxilla: 12, labium; 12 d, mouth-parts are USUally fit-
labial palpus. ’ , , , . . . J

ted for biting, but are very
difficult to study, because they are retracted within the

« 82

THYSANURA .

83

cavity of the head, and also on account of the small size of
the insects. Figure 89 represents them in place in the
head, and also each separately.

In certain respects these insects represent a connecting-
link between the other six-footed insects (Hexapoda) and
the Myriapods; for many of the Thysanura have rudiments
of legs on the abdomen. It is believed, therefore, that they
are much like the first insects that appeared on the earth
in ancient geological times.

The Thysanura undergo no metamorphosis, the young
resembling the adult in form.

The name of the order is from two Greek words:
thysanos , a tassel ; and oura , the tail.

The Thysanura include two distinct types of insects;
these are classed as suborders, and can be distinguished by
the following table :

TABLE OF THE SUBORDERS OF THE THYSANURA.

A. With bristle-like and many-jointed appendages at the caudal end
of the body (in a single genus these appendages are in the form of
forceps, Fig. 91), and without a sucker on the ventral side of the

abdomen, p. 83 . Cinura.

A A. With a forked sucker on the ventral side of the first abdominal
segment. Abdomen with a springing apparatus near its caudal
end, or without appendages, p. 84 . Collembola.

Suborder CiNURA (Ci-nu'ra).

The Bristle-tails .

Often the careful housekeeper sees in the ironing-basket,
or upon the book-shelf where she is dusting, a flash of light
like a tiny thread of quicksilver, that usually vanishes as soon
as seen.

If she is experienced she knows that this streak of light is
a little animal, half an inch long, whose body is clothed in
shining scales like those of a fish. Hence she calls it a Fish-
moth. Its scientific name is Lepisma saccharina ; (Le-pis'ma
sac-cha-ri'na) ; it is especially abundant in warm climates,

84

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

and often does damage to starched clothing, book-bindings,
and sometimes loosens wall-paper by eating out the paste.
Under a microscope the Fish-moth shows beautiful markings

Fig. 90. — Lepisma sac-
charina. (After Lub¬
bock.)

Fig. q\.—Japvx solifugus.
(After Lubbock.)

appendages.

on the shining scales ; and at the caudal end of the body are
three long bristle-like appendages (Fig. 90), which suggest
the common name Bristle-tail applied to members of this
suborder. Figure 91 represents Japyx (Ja'pyx), a Bristle-
tail in which the caudal appendages are in the form of horny
forceps; and Figure 92 represents the lower side of Machilis
(Mach'i-lis), another Bristle-tail, found under stones and
loose bark; this genus has rudimentary abdominal legs as
shown in the figure.

Suborder Collembola (Col-lem'bo-la).

The Spring-tails.

In the Spring in the Northern States, on bright sunny
days when it is thawing, one often sees upon the snow thou¬
sands of tiny dark specks. In other places pools of still

THYSANURA.

85

water appear to be covered by a moving mass of minute
grains which become more active when disturbed. These
masses as well as the dark specks on snow consist of thou¬
sands of little creatures that are provided with a wonderful
means of jumping. There is on the end of the body a tail-like
organ that is bent under when the insect is at rest, and that
reaches almost to the head ; this when suddenly straightened
throws the insect high in the air and several feet away. This
action is like a spring-board jump, only these little fellows
always carry their spring-boards with them, and have thus
won the name of Spring-tails. The species upon snow, called
the Snow-flea, Achorutes nivicola (Ach-o-ru'tes ni-vic'o-la),
sometimes proves a nuisance in maple sugar-bushes by get¬
ting into the sap. Through a micro¬
scope a Spring-tail appears very ab¬
surd, it has long antennae and large,
dark eye-spots on the face, which, to¬
gether with the long hair that sticks
forward on the head and thorax,
give the creature a look of solemn

n rv • rr • Fig. 93. — Papirtus fuscus. (After

fierceness. Different species may Lubbock.)

be found at almost any time of the year in damp places.
Figure 93 represents one of these. In many forms the
body is much more slender than in that figured.

CHAPTER V.

Order Ephemerida (Eph-e-mer'i-da).

The May -flies.

The members of this order have delicate membranous wings ,
with a fine network of veins ; the fore wings are large , and
the hind wings are much smaller or wanting. The mouth-
parts are rudimentary. The metamorphosis is incomplete.

The name of this order is from
the Greek word ephemeros , lasting
but a day. It was given to these in¬
sects on account of the shortness of
their lives after reaching the adult
state.* The May-flies are easily dis¬
tinguished from other net-winged in¬
sects by the peculiar shape of the
wings and the relative sizes of the two
pairs (Fig. 94).

The mouth-parts are nearly want¬
ing, as these insects eat nothing in
the adult state ; the antennae are very
small ; the abdomen is long, soft, and
terminated by two or three many-
jointed, thread-like appendages. In
their metamorphoses these insects differ from all others in
molting once after they have acquired wings fitted for flight.

This order includes only a single family.

* We have not adopted the name Plectoptera , which has been proposed
for these insects, on account of its similarity to Plecoptera .

86

EPHEMERIDA.

8 7

Family EPHEMERlDiE (Eph-e-mer'i-dae).

The May-flics.

In river or lake towns, during the warm evenings of late
spring or early summer, the electric lights or street lamps are
often darkened by myriads of insects that dash against them,
and the pavements are made slippery by their dead bodies
which have been trampled under foot. They are not the ordi¬
nary night-flying moths : if an individual of the thousands
that cling to the posts and buildings in the vicinity of the
light be examined, it will prove to be a delicate creature with
dainty, trembling wings and two or three long,
white, thread-like organs on the end of its body ;
the body itself is so transparent that the blood
within can be seen pulsating. The front
wings are large and finely netted, and the
hind wings are small or absent (Figs. 94, 95). Fla‘ two^ngeS
So fragile are these pale beings that they seem
like phantoms rather than real insects. No wonder that
poets have sung of them as the creatures that live only a
day. It is true that their winged existence lasts often
only a day or even a few hours ; but they have another
life, of which the poet knows nothing. Down on the
bottom of a stream, feeding on mud, water-plants, or other
small insects, lives a little nympli with delicate, fringed
gills along its sides and two or three long, many-jointed,
and often feathery appendages on the end of the body (Fig.

96). It has strong legs and can both walk and
swim. After about the ninth molt there may be
twenty molts in all — there appear on its thorax
four little sacs which are the beginnings of wings ;
with each molt these grow larger, until finally the
last skin of the water-nymph is shed, and gills and
mouth-parts are all left behind, and the insect
comes forth, a winged May-fly. But there is still
o?May-Xy.P another change to be undergone. The insect
has not yet reached the adult state. After flying a

88

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

short distance it alights and sheds its skin again, a thin layer
coming off from all parts of its body, even from its wings.
After this the delicate creature is more fragile than before.
It now has but one duty to perform in its brief life in the
air, and that is to lay its eggs. These are sometimes laid
on the surface of the water, and sometimes the mother wraps
her wings about her like a diving-bell and goes down into
the water and deposits her eggs on stones. The life of the
nymph is from one to three years, according to the species.

CHAPTER VI.

Order Odonata (Od-o-na'ta).

The Drago?i-Jlies a?id the Damsel- flies.

The members of this order have four membranous wings ,
which are finely ?ietted with veins ; the hind wings are as large
or larger than the fore wings ; and each wing has near the
middle of the front margin a joint-like structure , the nodus.
The mouth-parts are formed for biting . The metamorphosis
is incomplete .

The name of this order is evidently from the Greek
word odouSy a tooth ; but the reason for applying it to
these insects is obscure.

The Odonata are easily recognized by the form of their
wings, which are long and narrow ; and possess near the
middle of the front margin of each a little notch and a
strong cross-vein. This structure resembles in appearance
a joint, and is consequently named the nodus .

The mouth-parts are fitted for biting, these insects be¬
ing carnivorous and voracious feeders in the adult state.
Both the upper lip and the lower lip are large, and the
two nearly enclose the jaws when at rest.

The nymphs are all aquatic, and can be easily recog¬
nized by the form of the labium, which is long and jointed,
and when extended reaches far out; it is armed with pow¬
erful hooks with which to seize their prey. The terminal
portion is broad ; and when the lip is folded back in the
position of rest, it presents an appearance which has sug¬
gested for it the term mask.

Sg

9o

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Like the adults, the nymphs are strictly carnivorous.
They feed on a great variety of insects; and they also
destroy worms, crustaceans, fish-fry, and tadpoles.

There are two quite distinct types of insects included
in this order; these represent two suborders.

Suborder Anisoptera (An-is-op'te-ra).

The Dragon-flies .

The dragon-flies are easily distinguished by the relative
size of the two pairs of wings, and by the attitude of the
wings when at rest (Fig. 97). The hind wings are larger

Fig. 97. — A dragon-fly.

than the fore wings and are of a somewhat different shape;
the name Anisoptera, from the Greek anisos , unequal, and
pteron, wing, refers to this fact. But the most striking
characteristic is the fact that the wings are extended
horizontally when at rest.

Darning-needles, devirs-needles, snake-doctors, spin¬
dles, and dragon-flies are some of the names given to these
insects which dart back and forth over streams and wet
places, their rapidly moving wings throwing out gleams
of metallic color as they go. Still more beautiful are they
when at rest, their wings wide-spread above the abdomen,
and as rigid and motionless as if made of iridescent glass;

A N I SOP TER A .

91

and their great compound eyes shining like gold or pre¬
cious stones. But for all their terrible names, dragon-flies
are entirely innocent of any harm to mankind. They
neither sew up people’s ears, as northern children think;
nor bring dead snakes to life, as colored people in the
South believe; but they are very fierce enemies to their
insect kindred. Their long, narrow, closely netted wings
are strong, carrying them swiftly ; and their jaws are
powerful, and their appetites good ; so it is an unfortunate
insect that falls in their way. The fact that they destroy
mosquitoes has attracted much attention
of late ; but they feed upon a great variety
of insects; and the larger species habitu¬
ally eat the smaller ones.

The eggs of dragon-flies are laid in
water or fastened to aquatic plants. The
nymphs present a striking peculiarity of
the respiratory system ; very large tra¬
cheae extend to the rectum, and their
branches penetrate its wall and end in
a complicated series of tracheal gills in
the cavity of the rectum. The insect
alternately draws water into this cavity
and expels it; and thus the air in these
trachea? is purified. This process also nympfrif^goTfly
helps the insect in swimming, for the
water may be expelled with such force that the whole body
is sent forward. The full-grown nymph leaves the water
to undergo its last molt ; and the exuviae are often found
clinging to objects near the water (Fig. 98).

Suborder Zygoptera (Zy-gop'te-ra).

The Damsel- flies.

The damsel-flies differ from the dragon-flies in that the
two pairs of wings are similar in form and are either folded

92

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

parallel with the abdomen when at rest (Fig. 99) or are up-
tilted. The head is transverse, each eye being borne by a
lateral prolongation of the head. The females possess an

1 — nympa oi a no. ioi.—

damsel-fly. Tracheal gill

of nymph of
damsel-fly.

ovipositor by means of which the eggs are placed in the
stems of aquatic plants, sometimes beneath the surface of
the water.

The name of the suborder is from the Greek zygon ,
yoke, and pteron , wing; it probably refers to the fact that
the wings are brought together when at rest.

Unlike the dragon-flies, the damsel-flies are compara¬
tively feeble in their flight. They are found near the
margins of streams and ponds, in which the nymph stages
are passed.

The nymphs of damsel-flies (Fig. 100) possess leaflike
tracheal gills at the caudal end of the body. One of these
is represented greatly enlarged by Fig. 101.

CHAPTER VII.

Order PLECOPTERA (Ple-cop'te-ra).

The Stone-flies.

The members of this order have four membranous wings ,
with comparatively few or with many cross-veins ; the hind
wings are much larger than the fore wings , and are folded in
plaits and lie upon the abdomen when at rest. The mouth-
parts are of the biting type of structure , but are frequently
poorly developed. The metamorphosis is incomplete.

The name of this order is from two Greek words : plecos ,
plaited ; and pteron, a wing. It refers to the way in which
the hind wings are folded when at rest.

Although the mouth-parts are of the biting type of struc¬
ture, the mandibles are often small, flat, and membranous,
and evidently of little use. It is probable that as a rule
the adults eat but little. The antenna: are long, tapering,
and many-jointed ; and in most species the caudal end
of the abdomen is furnished with two many-jointed bristles.
The nymphs are aquatic.

This order includes only a single family-

Family Perlid^: (Per'li-dae).

The Stone-flies.

Those boys fond of fishing know that a good place to
find bait is under stones in streams. And doubtless they
have often observed that in the swiftest portion of the stream
the turned-over stones have clinging to the lower surface

93

94

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

flat creatures from one-half inch or less to one and one half
inches in length. They cling so closely and are so nearly the
color of the stone that they look almost like fossils. Their
antennae and caudal bristles and three legs on each side
extend out like the rays of a star ; the six soft clumps of
white hair-like gills, one behind each leg, alone show that
they are not engraved upon the stone (Fig. 102). These
insects are the nymphs of the stone-flies, and are the favorite-
food of fishes, especially of brook trout. If a nymph is
fortunate enough to escape the fate of being a luncheon for
fish, when it is full-grown it crawls forth from the water and

Fig. 102. — Nymph of Stone- Fig. 103 .—Pteronarcys regalis.

fly, Acroneura.

transforms to a gray or greenish fly, with slender, closely
veined fore wings and wide, delicate hind wings (Fig. 103).
The cast nymph-skins are common objects on the banks of
the streams which these insects inhabit. Several of the
smaller species of the stone-flies appear in the winged state
upon snow in early spring, and often find their way into
houses.

CHAPTER VIII.

Order ISOPTERA (I-sop'te-ra).

The Termites or White-ants.

The members of this order are social insects. Each species
consists of several distinct castes, of which only the “ Kings ”
and the “ Queens ” are winged. These have four long, nar¬
row wings, which are somewhat leathery in structure, and
which are furnished with numerous but more or less indistinct
veins. The two pairs of wings are similar in form and struc¬
ture, and are laid flat upon the back when not in use. The
mouth-parts are formed for biting. The metamorphosis is in¬
complete.

The name of this order is from two Greek words : isos,
equal ; and pteron, a wing. It refers to the fact that the two
pairs of wings are similar in form and structure.

The wings of the Termites (Ter'mites), although really
broad when compared to the size of the body, appear
narrow on account of their great length, being in many
cases more than twice as long as the entire body.

The order includes only a single family.

Family Termitid,e (Ter-mit'i-das).

The Termites or White-ants.

These interesting insects are not Ants, nor at all related
to them ; but they have been thus called because they have
certain social habits that are similar to those of true Ants.
They are more abundant in the tropics than here; and

95

96

THE STUDY OF INSECTS ,

Fig. 104. — Ter tries
Jlapives , worker.

Fig. 105. — Ter met
Jlavipes , soldier.

there build nests or mounds sometimes twelve feet high, or
make roundish nests several feet thick on trees. Our
Northern species ( Termes Jlavipes) lives in old logs and
stumps, or under stones in the ground.

A remarkable thing about the White-ants is the way they
are divided into classes, each class fitted to do a certain work

for the colony. First, there
is the class of workers (Fig.
104), which is constituted of
both sexes : they are wingless,
and of a dirty-white color,
and while they resemble true
ants somewhat, their waists
are thicker. Their business is
to bring food for everybody,
feed and bring up the young
termites, and build nests.
Second, there is the class
called soldiers (Fig. 105) : these too are of both sexes and
wingless, and look somewhat like the workers, only their
heads are tremendous in size, being often nearly as long as
the rest of the body, and their jaws are large and powerful.
Third, is the royal class called kings and queens . It would
have been better to have called them fathers and mothers,
as they are the parents of the colony, and do not rule it.
This class when grown have wings which lie flat upon the
back when at rest, and may be twice as long as the body.
In May or June in our common species this class swarms
forth from all the nests of the neighborhood. After a flight
of some distance the wings are shed, and a king chooses
some queen near him and proposes that they start a king¬
dom of their own. But like mortal kings and queens they
cannot reign unless a kingdom is found for them, and so
millions of these royal pairs die because they have no sub¬
jects. But sometimes a fortunate couple is discovered by
some termite workers, who at once take possession of the

ISOPTERA.

97

wanderers and provide them with food, and with shelter
in the shape of a large circular shallow cell. In this they
are really imprisoned, but are well cared
for. Soon the queen or mother begins
to develop eggs, and her body grows
enormously. Finally, it is nothing but
a huge sac filled with eggs, looking more
like a potato than anything else, and is
sometimes six or seven inches long (Fig.

106). Of course the poor queen cannot
move herself in the least, and if she were
not fed would soon starve ; but her king
remains devoted to her, and her ladies
and gentlemen in waiting do their best
to make her comfortable: they carry
away the eggs to other chambers as soon
as they are laid, then care for the eggs, and
feed the little ones when they are hatched. Fic Io6._Quee[1 white.
The young termites are active, and re- ant> T*rmes gtivus.
semble the adult in form. If a nest becomes queenless, and
the workers are unable to procure a queen, there are de¬
veloped in the nest wingless sexual individuals, which are
termed complemental males and females. But as each com-
plemental female lays only a few eggs, it requires several to
take the place of a real queen.

All White-ants are miners, and avoid the light. They
build covered-ways wherever they wish to go. In hot
countries they are a terrible pest, as they feed upon wood,
and actually destroy buildings and furniture and libraries.
They leave merely the outside portion of what they feed
upon ; and they have been known to enter a table through
the bottom of the legs and to eat all the inner portions so
that a slight weight crushed it to the floor. In Florida they
do damage to orange and other trees by girdling them below
the surface of the ground.

8

\

CHAPTER IX.

Order CORRODENTIA (Cor-ro-den'ti-a).

The Psocids (Psocids) and the Book-lice .

The winged members of this order have four membranous
wings , with the veins prominent , but with comparatively few
cress veins ; the fore wings are larger than the hind wings;
and both pairs when not in use are placed roof-like over the
body , being almost vertical , and not folded in plaits . The
mouth-parts are formed for biting . The metamorphosis is in¬

complete.

The name of this order is from
the Latin corrodere , to gnaw, and
refers to the gnawing habits of these
insects.

The wings, especially the fore
wings, are often smoky in color or

fig. io7.— Psocus vtnosus. variegated. The arrangement of the
veins of the wings (Fig. 107) differs in a striking manner
from that of any other biting insect.

The order includes two families, but representatives of
only one of them occur in the United States.

Family PSOCIDS (Psoc'i-dae).

The Psocids (Pso'cids) and the Book-lice.

Books may be old and out of date from our standpoint,
but still be of vital importance to others. Take down from

the shelf a time-yellowed book and open its neglected leaves

98

CORRODEN TIA.

99

and watch the pale tiny creatures that scurry across its
pages; examine one of them with a lens, look well at his
alert, knowing, black eyes, and we are sure you will believe
that he is in search of real literature, and not merely a feeder
upon paper, as we are taught. Anyway, scientists have con¬
cluded that these insects look wise enough to bear the name
Atropos divinatoria (At'ro-pos di-vin-a-to'ri-a),
or the Divining Atropos (Fig. 108). They
are, however, more commonly called simply
book-lice.

Some members of the family Psocidae do
not live in books, but feed upon lichens that
are found on the trunks of trees and on fences,
often a great number being grouped together. a Ziook-iouse.
Many of these have wings, and look like plant-lice (Fig. 107).
The eggs are laid in heaps on leaves and branches, and are
covered with a tissue of threads ; for the Psocids have the
power of spinning silk similar to that spun by spiders.

CHAPTER X.

Order Mallophaga (Mal-loph'a-ga).

The Bird-lice.

The members of this order are wingless parasitic insects ,
with biting mouth-parts. Their metamorphosis is incomplete.

The name of the order is from two Greek words : mallos ,
wool ; and phageiny to eat. Although some species infest
sheep and goats, feeding upon their wool, by far the greater
number live among the feathers of birds. It is due to this
fact that the common name Bird-lice is applied to the entire
group.

The order includes several families; but we will not take
the space to define them.

The Bird-lice are well known to most people that have
pet birds or who keep poultry. They differ from the true
Lice in having biting mouth-parts, and in feeding upon
either feathers, hair, or the skin ; while the true Lice have
sucking mouth-parts and feed upon blood.

It is to free themselves from these pests that hens wallow
in the dust. When poultry are kept in closed houses they
should be provided with a “ dust-bath.” All poultry-houses
should be cleaned at least twice a year, and the old straw
burned. Sprinkling powdered sulphur in the nests and oiling
the perches with kerosene will tend to keep the pests in
check. If a poultry-house becomes badly infested, it should
be cleaned thoroughly, and every part whitewashed ; and
the poultry should be dusted with Buhach or Persian insect
powder (Byrethrum).

ioo

MALLOPHAGA

IOI

Fig. 109 represents Goniodes sty lifer (Gon-i-o'des styl'r
fer), a species which infests the turkey; and Fig. no,

Fig. 109. — Goniodes sty lifer.
(From Law.)

Fig. 1 10. — Trichodectes scalar is,
(From Law.)

Trichodectes scalaris (Trich-o-dec'tes sca-la'ris), a species
infesting the ox.

CHAPTER XI.

Order Euplexoptera (Eu-plex-op'te-ra).

The Earwigs.

The members of this order have usually four wings ;
the first pair of which are leathery , very small , without veins ,
and when at rest meet in a straight line on the back ; the
second pair are large , with radiating veins , and when at rest
are folded both lengthwise and crossivise. The mouth-parts are
formed for biting. The caudal end of the body is furnished
with a pair of appendages which resemble forceps. The meta¬
morphosis is incomplete .

The name of the order is from three Greek words : eut
well ; pleko , to fold ; and pteron , wing. The word is not well
formed, but it cannot now be changed. It refers to the
unusual folding of the hind wings. This order is termed
the Dermaptera by many entomologists, but this name was
first applied to certain other insects, and so should not be
used for these. The fore wings of these insects resemble
the wing-covers of beetles, and like them differ greatly from
the usual form. The hind wings are very different from
those of any other insects. Figure 1 1 1 represents one of

these; they are furnished with radi¬
ating veins, which extends from a
point some distance from the base
of the wings. When the wing is not
in use that part over which these
Fig. 1 1 1. —Wing of Earwig. veins extend is folded in plaits like a

fan, after which the wing is folded twice crosswise. Al-

102

E UPLEXOP TER A.

103

though these insects bear some resemblance to beetles, they
differ from them markedly in having an incomplete meta¬
morphosis. The order includes only a single family.

Family Forficulid^e (For-fi-cu'li-das).

The Earwigs .

These are long and narrow insects, resembling rove*
beetles in the form of the body and
in the shortness of the wing - covers,
but easily distinguished by having a
pair of forceps at the end of the body
(Fig. 1 12). The common name, earwig^
has reference to a widely spread fancy
that these insects creep into the ears
of sleeping persons.

The earwigs are rare in the North¬
eastern United States, but are more
often found in the South and on the
Pacific coast. In Europe they are com¬
mon, and are often troublesome pests,
feeding upon the corollas of flowers,

, . , , ,ii 1 . Fig. i 12.— An Earwig.

fruits, and other vegetable substances.

f

CHAPTER XII.

Order ORTHOPTERA ( Or-thop' te-ra ).

Cockroaches , Crickets , Grasshoppers, and others .

The members of this order have four wings : the first pair
are thickened , and overlap when at rest ; the second pair are
thinner , and are folded in plaits like a fan . The mouth-parts
are formed for biting . The metamorphosis is incomplete .

The order Orthoptera includes some of the very common
and best-known insects. The most familiar representatives
are those named above.

Although the song of the Katydid and the chirp of
crickets are most often associated with recollections of pleas¬
ant evenings spent in the country, we cannot forget that to
members of this order are due some of the most terrible
insect scourges man has known. The devastations caused
by great swarms of migratory locusts are not only matters of
historical record, but are too painfully known to many of our
own generation in the Western States.

With the exception of a single family ( Mantidce ), the
members of this order are, as a rule, injurious to vegetation ;
and many species are quite apt to multiply to such an extent
that their destruction of vegetation becomes serious.

The name of the order is from two Greek words: orthos ,
straight ; and pteron , a wing. It refers to the longitudinal
folding of the hind wings.

In the Orthoptera the two pairs of wings differ in struc¬
ture. The fore wings are parchment-like, forming covers for
the more delicate hind wings. These wing-covers have re-

104

ORTHOPTERA.

105

ceived the special name tegmina (teg'mi-na); they are furnished
with a fine network of veins, and overlap at the tip at least.
There are many species in which the wings are rudimentary,
even in the adult state. Such adults resemble nymphs ; but
in the case of the jumping Orthoptera, where this peculiar-
ity most often occurs, nymphs can be distinguished by the
fact that the rudimentary hind wings are outside of the fore
wings, instead of beneath them, as in the adult state.

This order includes only six families. We are able, there¬
fore, to discuss all of them in this work. The following
synopsis will aid the student in fixing in his mind the more
important characteristics of each family.

SYNOPSIS OF THE FAMILIES OF THE ORTHOPTERA.

The Running Orthoptera.— The body is oval when seen from
above, and is very flat; the three pairs of legs are similar in

form ; the insects run rapidly, p. 106 . Blattida:.

The Grasping Orthoptera.— The prothorax is very long and
slender ; the first pair of legs are very different from the others.

and are fitted for grasping, p. 106 . .Mantidas.

The Walking Orthoptera.— The body is very long and slender;
the three pairs of legs are similar in form, and are also very
long and slender ; the insects walk slowly, p. 108. . . . Phasmida:.
The Jumping Orthoptera.— The hind legs are very much stouter
or very much longer, or both stouter and longer, than the
middle pair, being fitted for jumping. This group includes three
families :

The Short-hor?ied Grasshoppers , or Locusts. — The antennae are
shorter than the body. The ovipositor of the female is short and
composed of four separate plates. The tarsi are three-jointed.

p. . . .

The Long-horned Grasshoppers.— The antennae are very slender
and longer than the body. (This is also true of the crickets.)
The ovipositor is sword-shaped. The tarsi are four-jointed.

p . . LOCUSTIDiE.

The Crickets,— The antennae, like those of the long-horned grass¬
hoppers, are very slender and longer than the body, except in
the mole-crickets. The ovipositor is spear-shaped when exerted.
The tarsi are three-jointed, p. 115 . GRYLLiDiE.

io6

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Family Blattid^E (Blat'ti-dae).

The Cockroaches .

After every one is in bed at night and all is quiet in the
kitchen where there are water-pipes, often a throng of little
creatures come forth from hiding-places and, like brownies,
take possession of everything. They race around every
where, trying to find something to eat ; they do not care
much whether it is raw or cooked, but will devour almost
anything that comes in reach of their greedy jaws. They
eat book-bindings and bedbugs, if they find them, with
equal alacrity ; and sometimes they get bold enough to
appear in broad daylight. The little, pale brown rascal called
the Croton-bug, which came to us from Europe and infests

the vicinity of the pipes
of the water systems of
many of our cities, is es¬
pecially bold and impu¬
dent (Fig. 1 13). In fact,
in the North our native
cockroaches are mostly

F>g. 1x3. — The
Croton-bug.

Fig. i i 5.— Ootheca of a Cock¬
roach.

Fig. 114. — A Wing¬
less Cockroach.

respectable, well-behaved insects, living in fields and forests
under sticks and stones, the emigrant cockroaches being the
offenders. Many cockroaches are wingless (Fig. 114). The
eggs of a cockroach are laid, all at once, enclosed in a
sort of pod which is more or less bean-shaped (Fig. 115).
Thorough and frequent dusting with insect-powder in the
cracks about the kitchen will rid a house of these pests.

Family Mantid^E (Man'ti-dae).

The Praying Mantes , or Mule-killers .

Certainly they are pious-looking fellows, with their front
legs clasped together in front of their meek, alert faces, and

ORTHOPTERA .

107

it is no wonder that they are called Praying Mantes. But
the only prayer that could ever enter the mind of a Mantis

Fig. xi6. — Phasmomantis Carolina.

would be that some unwary insect might come
near enough for him to grab it with his hypo¬
critical claws, and so get a meal. Devil-horses*
rear-horses, and camel-crickets are other names
applied to these insects, because of the long,
slender prothorax which makes them look like
tiny giraffes. They are also called mule-killers*
from the absurd superstition that the dark-col¬
ored saliva they eject from their mouths is fatal ®
to the mule. But they are absolutely harmless
to both man and beast. They are mostly tropical
insects, and often have wings that resemble the
leaves of trees. Our common species, Phasmo -
mantis Carolina (Phas-mo-man'tis) (Fig. 116), is
confined to the Southern States. The eggs are
laid in masses and overlaid with a hard covering
of silk; the top of the masses having the appearance of be¬
ing braided (Fig. 117).

Fig. 117. —
Epp-mass of
a Ma

antis.

108

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Family PHASMlDAi (Phas'mi-dae).

The Walking-sticks.

The rambler in forests is often
surprised to discover that a part
of the casually-plucked branch in
his hand is alive. A certain twig
that was stiff and motionless sud¬
denly, when disturbed, walks off
on long slender legs, as awkwardly
as if it had never tried to walk
before. Strange and uncanny
creatures are these walking-sticks
with their long pointed bodies
and with legs colored and looking
exactly like twigs and leaf-peti¬
oles. In the tropics their resem¬
blance to foliage is made more
perfect by wings which are veined
like leaves. In the Northern States
we have only one common species,
Diapheromera femorata , (Di-aph-e-
rom'e-ra fem-o-ra'ta), and that is
wingless (Fig. 118). Walking-
sticks feed upon foliage. Their
eggs, which are large, are dropped
on the ground under the trees by
Fig. 118. — a Walking-stick. the mother, who trusts entirely
to fate to preserve them.

Family ACRIDIDA2 (A-crid'i-dse).

Locusts, or Short-horned Grasshoppers .

Every country lad is familiar with the appearance of
grasshoppers. But there are many kinds of these insects,
representing at least two distinct families. The family
Acrididae, or Locusts, includes those grasshoppers in which

ORTHOPTERA.

IOg

the antennae, are shorter than the body, and in which the
ovipositor of the female is short and made up of four sepa¬
rate plates (Fig. 119). The tarsi are three-jointed; and on

Fig. 119. — Side view of Locust with wings removed.

each side of the first segment of the abdomen there is a cir¬
cular plate which is believed to be an ear.

It is to these insects that the term locust is properly ap¬
plied. For the locusts of which we read in the Bible, and in
other books published in the older countries, are members
of this family. Unfortunately in the United States the
term locust has been applied to the Periodical Cicada, a
member of the order Hemiptera, described later. And,
what is more unfortunate, the scientific name Locustidae was
given long ago to the next family and cannot now be
changed. It should be remembered, therefore, that the
locusts do not belong to the Locustidae.

Locusts lay their eggs in oval masses and cover them
with a tough substance. Some species lay their eggs in the
ground. The female makes a hole in the ground with her
ovipositor, which is a good digging-tool. Some species even
make holes in fence-rails, logs, and stumps; then, after the
eggs are laid, the hole is covered up with a plug of gummy
materials. There is but one generation a year, and in most
cases the winter is passed in the egg-state. This family is
of great economic importance, as the members of it usually
appear in great numbers in every region where plants grow,
and often do much damage.

The males of many locusts are able to produce sounds.
This is done in two ways: First, certain species rub the
inner surface of the hind femora, upon which there is a row
of minute spines, against the outer surface of the wing-covers.

no

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The

legged

In this case each wing-cover serves as a fiddle, and each hind¬
leg as a fiddle-bow. Second, other species rub together the
upper surface of the front edge of the hind-wings and the
under surface of the wing-covers. This is done while the
locust is flying, and the result is a crackling sound.

There are very many species of locusts in the United
States. We have space to refer to only a few here.

most familiar member of the family is the Red-
Locust, Melanopliis femur-rubrum (Me-lan'o-plus)

(Fig. 1 20). It is more abun.
dant than any other species
throughout the United States,
except in the high dry lands
of the central part of the

Fl°. wo.—Meltinoplusfemur-rubrum. continent> Here the Rocky

Mountain Locust, Melanopliis spretus , abounds. This spe¬
cies closely resembles the red-legged locust, except that it
has longer wings. It is this insect that sometimes migrates
into the lower and more fertile regions of the Mississippi
Valley and does such great damage. It will be remembered
that at one time it almost produced a famine in Kansas and
the neighboring States. Fortunately the young of this
insect hatched in the low regions are not healthy, and die
before reaching maturity. Consequently the plagues caused
by the emigration of this insect are of short duration. There
are several other species of Melanoplus common in this
country, but they can be distinguished only by very careful
study.

The Clouded Locust, Encoptolophus sordidus (En-cop-tol'-
o-phus sor'di-dus) (Fig. 121), is very common in the Eastern
United States during the
autumn. It abounds in
meadows and pastures, and
attracts attention by the
crackling sound made by

the males during flight. Its F|C- 121 -—Encoptolophus sordidus,

color is dirty brown, mottled with darker spots.

ORTHOPTERA .

Ill

The Carolina Locust, Dissosteira Carolina, (Dis-sos-tei'ra),
is common throughout the United States and Canada, and
at the North is our largest species. It lives in roads and on
bare places, and its color matches the soil on which it lives.
It is usually pale yellowish or reddish-brown or slate color,
with small dusky spots. The hind wings are black, with a
broad yellow edge. It measures from one inch and a half
to nearly two inches in length.

The Sprinkled Locust, Chrysochraon conspersum (Chry-
soch'ra-on con-sper'sum) (Fig. 122), is a common species.
Here the wings are a little
shorter than the abdomen in
the males, and much shorter in
the females.

I ft the South and in the Fig. ,22. — Chrysochraon conspersum.

West we find several
genera in which the body
is very long and slender.
Leptysma marguiicolle

(Leptys'ma mar-gin-i-
F.g. „3 .-L'ftyma marginicolle. col'le) (Fig. 1 23), will

serve as an illustration of the form of these insects.

There is a group of small locusts of which Tcttix (Fig.
124) is an example, which is remarkable for the shape of
the pronotum. This projects backward like
a little roof over the wings, and often
extends beyond the end of the abdomen.

With these insects the wing-covers are in F,G- «« --Tettu.
the shape of small rough scales, the wings being protected
by the large pronotum. These insects are commonly found
in low, wet places, and on the borders of streams. Their
colors are usually dark, and are often protective, closely
resembling that of the soil upon which they occur. These
locusts are very active, jumping great distances.

112

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Family LOCUSTID.E (Lo-cus'ti-dse).

The Long-hortied Grasshoppers.

Any one that is in the habit of lying in the tall grass of
meadows or pastures and watching the insects that can be
seen there is sure to be familiar with certain green grass¬
hoppers, which attract attention by the extreme delicacy
and great length of their antennae. These are our most
a. common members of the Locustidae. The

// M*-! antennae are much more slender than with

ft the short-horned grasshoppers or locusts, and

y \ much longer, exceeding the body in length.

The tarsi are four-jointed. The ear-like
Fig. i?5.— Let* of organs, when present, are situated near the
ei?-likeOTgahn°.wing base of the fore tibiae (Fig. 125), and the
ovipositor is sword-shaped.

In those species of this family in which the wings are
well developed we find the males provided with an elabo-

Fig. 126. — Wing-cover of
Male Meadow Grasshopper.

Fig. 137. — Wing-cover of
Female Meadow Grasshopper.

rate musical apparatus by means of which they call their
mates. This consists of a peculiar arrangement of the veins
and cells of a portion of each wing-cover near its base. This
arrangement differs in the different species ; but in each it is

ORTHOPTERA .

113

such that by rubbing the wing-covers together they are made
to vibrate, and thus produce the sound. Figure 126 repre¬
sents a wing-cover of the male of a common meadow grass¬
hopper, and Figure 127 that of a female of the same
species.

In order to facilitate the study of this family the more
common representatives can be arranged in four groups :
The Meadow Grasshoppers, the Katydids, the Cricket-like
Grasshoppers, and the Shield-backed Grasshoppers.

I. The Meadow Grasshoppers.

— Under this head can be classed
our most common members of
the family; they abound upon
grass in meadows and in moist
places. Figure 128 represents one
of these insects.

II. The Katydids.— The chances are that he who lies
awake of a midsummer night must listen whether he wishes
to do so or not, to an oft-repeated, rasping song that says,
“ Katy did, Katy did ; she did, she didn't,” over and over
again. There is no use of wondering what Katy did or
didn’t do, for no mortal will ever know. If, when the dawn
comes, the listener has eyes sharp enough to discern one of
these singers among the leaves of some neighboring tree,
never a note of explanation will he get. The beautiful, finely-
veined wings folded close over the body keep the secret hid¬
den, and the long antennas, looking like threads of living
silk, will wave airily above the droll, green eyes as much as to
say, 41 Wouldn't you like to know?" The katydids live only
on trees, and sing only during the night. There are several
species of katydids common in the United States. The
Western and Southern species, called the Angular-winged
Katydid, Microcentrum retinervis (Mic-ro-cen'trum ret-i'ner-
vis) lays its eggs in neat rows upon leaves and branches ;
the eggs are oval, and each overlaps its neighbor slightly

Fig. 128 . — Xiph i d i u tti .

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

1 14

(Fig. 129). In many sections where the katydids do not
occur, the song of the Snowy Tree-cricket, described later, is
often mistaken for that of a Katydid.

Fig. 129. — The Angular-winged Katydid and its eggs.

III. The Cricket-like Grasshoppers . — These are wingless,
and resemble crickets in form. The most common members of

this group belong to the genus
CeutJiophilus (Ceu-thoph'i-lus)
(Fig. 130). These insects are
found under stones and rub¬
bish, especially in woods.

Fig. 130. — Ceuthofhilus. . ,

V ery closely allied to them are
the colorless and blind Cave-crickets, Hadencecus (Had-e-
nee'eus), found in caves.

ORTHOP TER A.

115

IV. The Shield backed Grasshoppers. — These are also
wingless, and dull-colored insects, which bear some resem¬
blance to crickets. They
present, however, a
queer appearance, due
to the pronotum extend¬
ing backward over the
rest of the thorax, like
a sun-bonnet worn over Fig- Thyreonotus, .

the shoulders with the back side forward. This group is repre¬
sented in the Eastern half of the United States by Thyreo-
notus (Thyr-e-o-no'tus) (Fig. 131). In the regions west of the
Mississippi River occur the “ Western Crickets,” belonging
to the genus Anabrus (An'a-brus), and on the Pacific coast

Fig. 132. — Ste nopelmntus.

there are large, clumsy creatures with big heads, that live
under stones and in loose soil, and are popularly known as
Sand-crickets. These belong to the genus Stenopelmatus
(Stcn-o-pel-ma'tus) (Fig. 132).

Family Gryllid^: (Gryl'li-dae).

The Crickets .

The crickets differ from both families of grasshoppers in
having the wing-covers flat above and bent sharply down at
the edge of the body like a box-cover, instead of meeting in
a ridge above the body like a roof. The antennae are long

Ji6

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

and slender, like those of the Locustidae ; but the form of
the ovipositor is quite different in this family, being spear-
shaped, instead of sword-like.

The males of the crickets have musical organs which are
even more elaborate than those of the Katydids and meadow
grasshoppers. Here all that part of each wing-cover that
lies on the back is occupied by them. This gives the males
a very different appearance from the females, the wing-
covers of that sex being veined simply.

During the latter part of summer and in the autumn the
air is filled with the chirping of crickets. It is an interest¬
ing thing to watch one of these fiddlers calling his mate.
By moving quietly in the- direction from which the sound
comes, and stopping whenever the insect stops chirping,
but moving on again when he renews his song, one can get
near enough to see how he does it. This can be done even
in the night with the aid of a lantern, as the crickets do not
seem to mind lights.

Figure 133 represents the musical apparatus of a cricket.

Fig. 133. — Tegmina of male Gryllus.

From this it will be seen that the large veins divide the wing-
covers into disk-like membranous spaces. If the principal
vein which extends diagonally across the base of the wing-

ORTHOPTERA.

II 7

cover be examined with a microscope, it will be seen to be
furnished with ridges like those of a file (Fig. 133, b). On
the inner margin of the wing-cover, a short distance toward
the base from the end of the principal vein, there is a
hardened portion which may be called the scraper. This is
shown enlarged at c in the figure. Each wing-cover is there¬
fore provided with a file and a scraper. When the cricket
wishes to make his call, he elevates his wing-covers at an
angle of about forty-five degrees with the body ; then hold¬
ing them in such a position that the scraper of one rests
upon the file of the other, he moves the wing-covers back
and forth sidewise so that the file and the scraper rasp upon
each other. This throws the wing-covers into vibration,
and produces the call.

There are comparatively few species of crickets, but they
represent three quite distinct groups. These can be dis¬
tinguished as the Mole Crickets, the True Crickets, and the
Tree Crickets.

I. The Mole Crickets . — These are
called Mole Crickets because they burrow
in the ground like moles. There are
species belonging to the next group, the
true crickets, which burrow in the ground ;
but the mole-crickets are pre-eminently
burrowers. The form of the body is
suited to this mode of life. The front
tibiae, especially, are fitted for digging;
they are greatly broadened, and shaped
somewhat like hands, or the feet of a
mole. Figure 134 represents one of
these insects. The mole-crickets feed
upon the tender roots of various plants,
and where they are common they are
serious pests.

II. The True Crickets. — To this group belong our com¬
mon, black acquaintances that peep at us from the cracks

Iltf

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

in the paving, or jump across our paths when we walk in

the fields. They are com¬
mon everywhere; some spe¬
cies even live in our houses.
They usually feed upon plants,
but are sometimes predaceous.

Fig. xzs.-Gryitus abbreviate. The eggs are laid in the au¬
tumn, usually in the ground, and are hatched in the follow¬
ing summer. The greater number of the old crickets die on
the approach of winter; a few, however, survive the cold
season. Figure 135 represents the female of a species com¬
mon in the East. In this species the wings are shorter than
usual.

III. The Tree Crickets . — The common name of this
group was suggested by the fact that these
crickets are very apt to inhabit trees ; but
they occur also on shrubs, or even on high
herbs and tall grass. The most abundant
species in the East is the Snowy Tree-
cricket, CEcanthus niveus (GE-can'thus niv'e-
us). This is a delicate, whitish-green insect,
that lives upon shrubs or plants. The
female often does serious damage by laying
her eggs in raspberry canes, causing them to
die above the puncture. Canes thus in¬
jured should be cut and burned in the
early spring before the eggs are hatched. Figure 136 shows
the male, his closely folded wings showing beneath his
delicate transparent wing-covers. The female has her wing?
covers wrapped closely around her body, making her look
much narrower than the male.

CHAPTER XIII.

Order PHYSOPODA (Phy-sop'o-da).

Thrips.

The members of this order have four wings ; these are
similar in form, long, narroiv, membranous, not folded, with
but few or no veins, and only rarely with cross veins ; they
are fringed with long hairs, and are laid horizontally along
the back when at rest . The metamorphosis is incomplete . The
mouth-parts are probably used chiefly for sucking; they are
hit er mediate in form between those of the sucking and those of
the biting insects (Fig. 138); the mandibles are bristle-like;
the maxilla are triangular, flat , and furnished with palpi ;
and the labial palpi are also present. The tarsi are two-
jointed, bladder-like at tip , and without claws.

Pull to pieces a clover-blossom or a daisy, and you will
probably find at the base of the florets many wee, black,
red, or yellowish insects. These are so small that it would
take a dozen or more placed end to end to measure an inch ;
and when disturbed they are apt to thrust the end of their
bodies up in the air as if they meant to sting, looking as
ferocious as such small insects can look. They are extremely
lively, leaping or taking flight with great agility. Under a
microscope their four narrow wings, delicately fringed all
around with long hairs, may be seen ; these wings are laid
flat down the back when at rest. The red ones are wingless,
and are the young of the black species. Some species eat
other insects, but most of them live upon vegetation. There
is one species, Limothrips poaphagus (Lim'o-thrips po-aph'a-

IIQ

\

120

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

gus) that damages timothy and June-grass very much by
working in the upper joints. In the early summer the dead
and yellow heads of grasses thus destroyed may be seen
everywhere in grass-growing regions. Some species live
under the bark of trees. The accompanying figure repre¬
sents one of these insects very greatly enlarged (Fig. 137).

Fig. 137. — Thrips.

Fig. 138. — Mouth-parts of Thrips. (Drawn by J.

10. 130. — muuui-pans oi / /trips. ^ urawn Dy j.
M. Stedman, under the author's direction .) 8,
labrum; to, mandible; it, maxilla; 12, labium.

The insect infesting grapes, called “The Thrips/’ is
not a Thrips at all, but a leaf-hopper belonging to the
Homoptera.

The name Physopoda is from two Greek words : p/iysao ,
to blow up, and pous, a foot. It refers to the curious
bladder-like feet of these insects. Figure 138 represents the
mouth-parts of Thrips.

CHAPTER XIV.

Order Hemiptera (He-mip'te-ra).

Bugs , Lice , Aphids , and others.

The winged members of this order have four wings; in cne
sub-order the first pair of wings are thickened at the base , with
thinner extremities which overlap o?i the back ; in another
sub-order the first pair of wings are of the same thickness
throughout , and usually slope at the sides of the body. The
mouth-parts are formed for sucking. The metamorphosis is
incomplete.

The order Hemiptera includes many well-known pests:
here belong the true bugs, the lice, the aphids, the scale
insects, and many other forms injurious to plants. On the
other hand, some of the species are ranked among beneficial
insects on account of their predaceous habits ; while still
others, as the cochineal and lac insects, furnish us with
useful products.

The name Hemiptera is from two Greek words : hemi,
half; and pteron , a wing. It was suggested by the form of
the first pair of wings in the true bugs. Here the basal half
of these organs is thickened somewhat like the wing-covers
of beetles, only the terminal half being wing-like. The
second pair of wings are membranous, and when at rest are
folded beneath the first pair.

The mouth-parts are formed for piercing and sucking.
Without dissection, they usually appear as a slender jointed
beak, arising at the base of a shorter, pointed upper lip.
This beak consists of four bristles, enclosed in a fleshy,

121

122

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

jointed sheath (Fig. 139). Two of the bristles represent the
mandibles, and two the maxillae. The sheath is supposed
to consist of the labium and the grown-together labial palpi.

In their transformation the Hemiptera pass through an
incomplete metamorphosis; the young nymphs resembling

F 1 g. 139.—
Mouth-parts
of Bug. (Af¬
ter Muhr.)

Fig. 140, a. — Head of an heter-
opterous insect.

Fig. 140, b. — Head
of an homopterous
insect.

the adults more or less closely in form, and the wings being
gradually developed at successive molts.

This order includes three well-marked groups, which are
ranked as suborders. The first of these, the Heteroptera ,
includes the true bugs. They are placed first, as we believe
they resemble the ancient Hemiptera — the first to appear on
the earth — more closely than the members of either of the
other suborders. The second suborder, the Parasitica, in¬
cludes the lice. These insects are much lower in structure
than the Heteroptera; but we believe that this simplicity
in structure is a result of degradation due to parasitic habits,
and therefore really represents a later development than
that shown by the Heteroptera. In other words, the lice
are probably descendants of some ancient form resembling
some of the existing Heteroptera. Among the Heteroptera
the bedbug exhibits a similar downward tendency. The
third suborder, the Homoptera , includes some forms that

1

HEMIPTERA .

123

are perhaps as primitive as any of the existing Heteroptera*,
but, on the other hand, we find here forms that represent
the widest divergence from the hemipterous type known to
us.

These three suborders can be separated by the following
table :

A. Wingless Hemiptera, parasitic upon man and other Mammals,

with a fleshy, unjointed beak p. 147 . II. Parasitica.

AA. Hemiptera with or without wings, but with a jointed beak.

B. First pair of wings thickened at the base, with thinner extremi¬
ties, which overlap on the back; beak arising from the front
part of the head (Fig. 140, a), p. 123 . 1. Heteroptera.

BB. Wings of the same thickness throughout, and usually sloping
at the sides of the body; beak arising from the hinder part of
the lower side of the head (Fig. 140, it) P.J48.III. Homoptera.

Suborder HETEROPTERA (Het-e-rop'te-ra).

The True Bugs .

People that know but little regarding entomology are apt
to apply the term bug to any kind of insect; but, strictly
speaking, only the Hemiptera are bugs, and many restrict
the term to members of this suborder. We therefore des«
ignate the Heteroptera as the True Bugs.

The bugs are very common insects. They abound on
grass and on the foliage of other plants. Certain foul-smell¬
ing members of this group are well-known pests in gardens,
and upon berries in fields.

In this suborder the first pair of wings are thickened at
the base, while the tips, which overlap each other on the
back of the insect, are thin and transparent ; and the beak
arises from the front part of the head (Fig. 140, a). Some of
the Heteroptera live in water, others on land, while still
others live on the surface of the water or in marshy places.
Each of these modes of life are characteristic of certain fami¬
lies. The name Heteroptera is from the Greek heteros , di¬
verse, and pteron , a wing. The following synopsis will aid

124

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

the student in learning the characters of the families of this
suborder :

SYNOPSIS OF THE HETEROPTERA.

The Short-horned Bugs. Bugs with short antennae, which are
nearly or quite concealed beneath the head.

Bugs that live within water .

The Water-boatmen, Family Corisida?:. (p. 129.)

The Back-swimmers, Family Notonectid,e. (p. 130.)

The Water scorpions, Family Nepid^e. (p. 130.)

The Giant Water-bugs, Family Belostomid^E. (p. 131.)

The Creeping Water-bugs, Family NauCORID.E. (p. 133.)
Bugs that live near water.

The Toad-shaped Bugs, Family Galgulid^e. (p. 133.)

The Long-horned Bugs. Bugs with antennas at least as long as
the head, and prominent except in the Phymatidce , where
they are concealed under the sides of the prothorax.

The Semi-aquatic Bugs.

The Shore-bugs, Family SALDiDiE. (p. 134.)

The Broad-shouldered Water-striders, Family VeliidjE. (p.
1 34-)

The Water-striders, Family 1-Iydrobatid.e. (p. 135.)

The Marsh -t readers, Family LiMNOBATiDiE. (p. 136.)

The Land-bugs .

The Land-bugs with four-jointed ante juice.

The Thread -legged Bugs, Family EmesiDjE. (p. 136,)

The Assassin-bugs, Family REDUVilDiE. (p. 137.)

The Damsel-bugs, Family Nabid,e. (p. 138.)

The Ambush-bugs, Family Phymatid>e. (p. 138.)

The Flat bugs, Family Aradid^e. (p. 139.)

The Lace-bugs, Family TingitiD/E. (p. 139.)

The Bed-bug and the Flower-bugs, Family AcantkiiDjE,
(p. 140).

The Leaf-bugs, Family Capsid^E. (p. 140.)

The Red-bug Family, Family Pyrrhocorid.e. (p. 141.)
The Chinch-bug Family, Family Lyg^eid^e. (p. 142.)

The Stilt-bugs, Family Berytid;e. (p. 143.)

The Squash-bug Family, Family CoreiDjE. (p. 143.)

The Land-bugs with five jointed antenncE.

The Stink-bug Family, Family Pentatomid^e. (p. 144.)
The Burrower-bugs, Family Cydnid^e. (p. 145).

The Negro-bugs, Family Corimel,enid;e. (p. 146.)

The Shield-backed bugs, Family Scutellerid,e. (p. 146.J

HEM IP TER A%

125

Classification of the Heteroptera.

(For adva7iced students.)

In order to use the following table for determining the families of
bugs, the student should become familiar with the names applied to
different parts of the fore-wings of these insects. The thickened
basal portion is composed of two pieces joined together at their
sides ; one of these is narrow and is the part next
to the scutellum when the wings are closed (Fig.

141, cl)\ this is distinguished as the clavus (claVus). ( “

The other broader part is the corium (co'ri-um) fig. i4t.— Diagram of
(Fig. 141, co). The terminal portion of the wing- £ugg cover of a
cover is designated as the membrane (Fig. 141, ?n.)

In certain families a triangular portion of the terminal part of the
corium is separated as a distinct piece; this is the cuneus (cu'ne-us)
(Fig. 141, cu). In certain other cases, a narrow piece on the costal)
margin of the corium is separated by a suture ; this is the embolium
(em-bo'li-um) (Fig. 141,1).

Fig. 145. Fig. 146. Fig. 1*7.

Pyrrhocoridce . Ly gee id a. Core idee.

TABLE FOR DETERMINING THE FAMILIES OF THE
HETEROPTERA.

A. Antennae shorter than the head, and nearly or quite concealed in
a cavity beneath the eyes.

B. Hind-tarsi without claws.

C. Fore-tarsi flattened with a fringe of hairs on the edge, and
without claws ; head overlapping the prothorax, p. 129.

Corisidje.

CC. Fore-tarsi of the usual form, and with two claws; head in¬
serted in the prothorax, p. 130 . NotonectiDjE.

126

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

BB. Hind-tarsi with two claws.

C. Caudal end of the abdomen furnished with a respiratory tube
composed of a pair of grooved, thread-like organs, p. 130.

NEPIDjE.

CC. Caudal end of abdomen without respiratory tube.

D. Legs flattened, fitted for swimming ; caudal end of the ab¬
domen furnished with a pair of strap-like appendages (these
appendages are retractile and are frequently withdrawn from

sight), p. 131 . Belostomidje.

DD. Legs fitted for walking; abdomen without strap-like
caudal appendages.

E. Without ocelli, p. 133 . Naucorid«<e.

EE. Ocelli present, p. 133 . Galgulidje.

AA. Antennae at least as long as the head, usually free, rarely (Phy~
matidcB ) fitting in a groove under the lateral margin of the pro-
notum.

B. Body linear; head as long as the three thoracic segments.

p. 136 . LlMNOBATIDiE.

BB. Body of various forms, but, when linear, with the head shorter
than the thorax.

C. Last segment of the tarsi more or less split, and with the
claws inserted before the apex.

D. Body usually elongated ; prothorax narrow ; beak four-
jointed ; second and third pairs of legs extremely long and

slender, p. 135 . Hydrobatid.®.

DD. Body usually stout, oval, and broadest across the protho¬
rax; beak three-jointed; legs not extremely long. p. 134.

VELIIDvE.

CC. Last segment of the tarsi entire, and with the claws inserted
at the apex.

D. Antennae four-jointed.*

E. Wing-covers resembling network, and very rarely (Piesma
with any distinction between the corium and the mem¬
brane. p. I39 . . TlNGITIDiE.

EE. Wing-covers of various forms or absent, but not of the
form presented by the Tingitidae. See Fig. 165.

F. Beak three-jointed.

^In certain families there are minute intermediate segments between the
principal segments of the antennae. For the purposes of this table these
intermediate segments are not counted.

HEMIPTERA .

127

G. Wing-covcrs when well developed with an embolium
(Fig. 143) ; those forms in which the adult has rudimen¬
tary wing-covers have no ocelli, p. 140. . . AcanthiiDjE.
GG. Wing-covers when well developed without an em¬
bolium ; those forms in which the adult has rudimentary
wing-covers have ocelli.

H. Ocelli wanting.

I. Body linear, p. 136 . Emesid^e.

II. Body greatly flattened, p. 139 . AradidjE.

III. Body of ordinary form. p. 137. Reduviid^e.
HH. Ocelli present, though sometimes difficult to see.

I. Beak very long, reaching to or beyond the inter¬
mediate coxae, p. 134 . SaldidjE.

II. Beak not reaching the intermediate coxae.

J. Front legs with greatly thickened femora.

p. 138 . PHYMATIDiE.

JJ. Front femora somewhat thickened, but much
less than half as wide as long. p. 137.

Reduviid^e.

FF. Beak four-jointed.

G. Front legs fitted for grasping prey, the tibiae being
armed with spines and capable of being closed tightly
upon the femora, which are stout. In the- forms with
long wings the membrane is usually furnished with
four long veins, bounding three discal cells which are
often open. From these cells diverge veins which
form several marginal cells. (Fig. 142). p. 138.

NABIDiE.

GG. Front legs fitted for walking.

H. Wing-covers with cuneus. Membrane with one
or two closed cells at its base, otherwise without
veins. (Fig. 144.) p. 140 . Capsid^e.

HH. Wing-covers without cuneus. Membrane with
four or five simple or anastomosing veins arising
from the base ; or with a large number of veins aris¬
ing from a cross-vein at the base.

I. Ocelli wanting; membrane with two large cells
at the base, and from these arise about eight
branching veins. (Fig. 145.) p. 140.

PYRRHOCORIDjE.

II. Ocelli usually present.

128

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

J. Head with a transverse incision in front of the
ocelli, which are always present. (Fig. 175.)
p. 143 . BERYTIDiE.

JJ. Head without transverse incision.

K. Membrane with four or five simple veins
arising from the base of the membrane; the
two inner ones sometimes joined to a cell near

the base. (Fig. 146.) p. 142 . Lyg^id^e.

KK. Membrane with many, usually forked
veins, springing from a transverse basal vein.

(Fig. I47.) p. 143 . COREIDiE.

DD. Antennas five-jointed.

E. Scutellum nearly flat, narrowed behind.

F. Tibias unarmed or furnished with very short spines,
p. 144 . Pentatomid.e.

FF. Tibias armed with strong spines in rows. p. 145.

CYDNIDiE.

EE. Scutellum very convex, covering nearly the whole ab¬
domen.

F. Lateral margins of the scutellum with a furrow in
which the edge of the wing-cover fits when closed.

p. 146 . CORlMELiENID^E.

FF. Lateral margins of the scutellum without a furrow,
p. 146 . SCUTELLERID/E.

In the following pages we have discussed the families of the Hete-
roptera in the order in which they are commonly arranged by writers
on these insects. The aquatic families are placed first, the semi-
aquatic next, and the terrestrial last. We do not believe, however,
that this represents well the lines of development of these insects. It
seems probable to us that some of the terrestrial forms, as the Penta-
tomidae, resemble the ancient Heteroptera more closely than do the
aquatic forms ; and that the aquatic forms are really very highly spe¬
cialized and represent the summit of one of the lines of development.
Perhaps the Scutelleridse represent the summit of another line.
But as we have been unable to give the matter sufficiently thorough
study to warrant our proposing a new arrangement, it seems best to
follow the old one, merely indicating our belief in the necessity for a
revision of the subord**i*.

HEMIPTERA .

129

Family CORISID^E (Co-ris'i-dae).

The Water-boatmen,

These are oval, gray and black, mottled bugs, usually
less than half an inch in length, which occur in the streams,
ponds, and lakes of the whole United
States. The characteristic form and
markings of these insects are shown in
Figure 148. These Water-boatmen
have the body flattened above, and
swim upon the ventral surface ; in
these respects they differ from the mem¬
bers Of the next family. Fig- *4 B.—Corisa undulata.

The body of these insects, as they swim through the
water, is almost completely enveloped in air, which glitters
like a silver armor. This air is breathed by the insects while
they remain under water, and in good water it is purified
by contact with the fine particles of air scattered through
the water; so that the insects can breathe their coats of air
again and again indefinitely. This is the case especially
when they are in their favorite attitude, anchored near the
bottom of a pond or aquarium. Here they will remain for
a long time clinging to some object by their fore legs, and
with their hind legs stretched out sidewise ; these they move
frequently as when swimming. The result of this movement
is to cause a current of water to pass over the coat of air,
purifying it.

The body of these insects with the air clinging to it is
much lighter than water; consequently, whenever they loose
their hold upon the object to which they have been clinging,
they rise quickly to the surface, unless they prevent it by
swimming. They occasionally float on the surface of the
water, and can leap into the air from the water and take
flight. They feed upon other insects and lay their eggs
upon water-plants. All of the North American species of
this family belong to the genus Corisa (Cor'i-sa).

10

l^o

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Family N OTONECTIDiE (No-to-nec'ti-dae).

The Back-swimmers .

The Back-swimmers have the back shaped like the
bottom of a boat, instead of flat like the true water-boatmen
and they differ from all other aquatic bugs in that they
always swim on their backs.

The favorite attitude of the Back-swimmers is floating on
the surface of the water, back downward, with the hind end
of the body projecting sufficiently to admit of air being
drawn into the space beneath the wings. When in this
position their long oar-like hind legs are stretched outward
and forward, ready for action. When disturbed they dart
away toward the bottom of the pond, carrying a supply of
air beneath their wings. Occasionally these insects will
float on the surface of the water with their backs uppermost;
and, like the water-boatmen, they can leap into the air from
the water and take flight.

The Back-swimmers feed upon insects and other small
animals. In collecting them care must be
taken or they will inflict painful stings with
their sharp and powerful beaks.

The greater number of our common spe¬
cies of this family belong to the genus Noto -
necta (No-to-nec'ta) (Fig. 149).

Fig. 149. — Notonecta
undulata.

Family NEPIDA (Nep'i-da^).

The Water-scorpions .

The Water-scorpions have two long bristles on the end
of the body, which are grooved on the inner side. By put¬
ting these bristles together a long tube is formed, which the
insects can project to the surface of the water, and thus ob¬
tain air for breathing, while resting on the bottom of the

HEM1PTERA.

131

pond, stilted on their long legs, or clinging head downward
to the stems of plants.

The most common members of this family belong to the
genus Ranatra (Ran'a-tra) (Fig. 1 50). These are long, slender
bugs with long, slender legs. The
only other representative of the fam¬
ily found in the United States is Nepa
apiculata (Ne'pa a-pic-u la'ta). In
this species the body is oval, flat,
and thin, and measures about two
thirds of an inch in length, not includ¬
ing the breathing-tube, which is a
little more than one fourth of an inch
long. (See Fig. 214, p. 174.)

The Water-scorpions live among
rubbish or on the stems of water-
plants, in ponds and in the quiet parts
of our streams. They are carnivo¬
rous, and have the first pair of legs
fitted for seizing prey. In these legs
the coxa is very long, and the femur
is furnished with a groove into which FlG- *5° Ranatra /usca.
the tibia and tarsus fit like the blade of a pocket-knife into
the handle.

Owing to the linear form of the body of Ranatra , and to
the dirt with which it is usually covered, it is quite difficult
to detect the presence of this insect among the rubbish
where it is found. Doubtless this resemblance to a dirty
stick aids it greatly in the capture of insects, small fish, and
other unwary animals upon which it preys.

Family BELOSTOMlDiE (Bel-os-tom'i-dse).

The Giant Water-bugs .

We have named these insects the Giant Water-bugs as
the family includes the largest Heteroptera now in existence.

i32

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Figure 15 1 represents a common
form, natural size. Like other
water-bugs, these insects fly readily
from pond to pond, and they are
frequently attracted to lights.
This is especially the case where
electric lights are used, into which
they sometimes fly and are killed
by hundreds. On this account
they arc known in many parts of
the country as “ Electric-light
Bugs ; ” and in some sections the
absurd idea prevails that they have
appeared only recently, as if they
were in some way a product of the

Fig. 151. — Belostoma americanum. electric light.

Figure 151 represents Belostoma americanum (Be-los'to-
ma a-mer-i-ca'num). In Belostoma the front femora are
grooved for the reception of the tibiae, as in the preceding
family. Another common representative of the family is
Benacus griseus (Be-na'cus gris'e-us). This resembles Belos -
toma americanum very closely, but can be distinguished from
it by the absence of the femoral groove.

There are other species of the family which are smaller
and belong to the genus Zaitha (Za'i-tha). Figure 152 rep¬
resents one of these, natural size.

In the far West there is a common spe¬
cies which is an inch and a half long and
about half as broad ; this is Serphus dilatatus
(Ser'phus dil-a-ta'tus). These insects are
known to California children as “ Toe-biters/'
owing to the great interest they are sup¬
posed to take in the feet of waders and

swimmers. # Fig.

The Giant Water-bugs are rapacious mine a.

creatures, feeding on other insects and small fish. With

HEMIPTERA.

*33

many of them the female fastens her eggs on the top of the
back of the male with a thin layer of waterproof glue which
she secretes for this purpose.

Family NAUCORID^E (Nau-cor'i-dae).

The Creeping Water -bugs.

This is a small family containing water-bugs of a moder¬
ate size, in which the front legs are fitted for grasping and
the middle and hind legs for walking. They are flat-bodied,
chiefly oval insects, and without appendages at the hind end
of the body.

The members of this family are predaceous ; and, accord¬
ing to Professor Uhler, they are fond of reedy and grassy,
quiet waters, where they creep about like the Predaceous
Diving-beetles, creeping and half swimming around and be¬
tween the leaves and sprays of the submerged plants, and
suddenly seizing any unlucky water-boatman or other insect
that happens to be within reach.

Figure 153 represents Pelocoris femorata (Pe-loc'o-ris
fem-o-ra'ta), the only species found in the States on
the Atlantic coast. Several other species are found
in the Western States. These belong to the genus
Ambrysus ( Am-bry'sus), which differs from Pelocoris
in having the front margin of the prothorax very
sinuate.

#

FiG.153.—

Pelocoris.

deeply

Family Galgulid^E (Gal-gu'li-das).

The Toad-shaped Bugs.

There is sometimes found on the muddy margins of
streams or in marshes, where the soil is moist, a curious bug,
which on account of its short and broad body and projecting
eyes reminds one of a toad ; this is Galgulus oculatus (Gal'gu*

134

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

lus oc-u-la'tus) (Fig. 154), the most common member of this
family. Another species, Mononyx stygicns (Mon'o-
nyx styg'i-cus), closely resembles this one in form,
but can be distinguished by the fact that it has
only a single claw on each front tarsus. A third
F'g '/\54lu7 member of the family is Pelogonus americanns (Pe-
ocuiatus. log'o-nus a-mer-i-ca'nus) ; this is a smaller insect,
with a more oblong body, and of a velvety-black color.
These three are all of the species of this family that have
been found in the United States. They all are predaceous.
Some members of this family are known to make burrows
for themselves, and to live for a part of the time beneath
the ground.

Family SALDID/E (Sal'di-dae).

The Shore-bugs.

These are certain small bugs, of dark colors with white
or yellow markings, and with long antennae, which abound
in the vicinity of streams and lakes, and upon damp soils,
especially of marshes near our coasts. The shape of these
Shore-bugs is shown by Figure 155 ; they belong to
the genus Saida , the only genus representing this
family in the United States, although many species
occur here. Fig 155<—

Some of the Shore-bugs dig burrows, and live 6alda-
for a part of the time beneath the ground. They take
flight quickly when disturbed, but alight after flying a short
distance.

\

Family VELIID^E (Ve-li'i-dae).

The Broad-shouldered Water-slriders.

There are many bugs that run upon the surface of the
water. The greater number of them belong to the next fam¬
ily; but there are several genera which represent a family
distinct from the true Water-striders, and which can be easily
distinguished from them by the fact that the body is broad-

H EMI P TER A.

135

est across the prothorax. These Broad-shouldered Water-
striders constitute the family Veliidce . They pass the greater
part of their lives upon the surface of the water, often con¬
gregating in schools containing hundreds of individuals ; but
they usually remain near the banks of the stream or pond,
and sometimes they leave the water, mov¬
ing on the land with great freedom. Like
the members of the allied families, they are
predaceous. Figure 1 56 represents one of
these insects somewhat enlarged.

Fig. 156. — Rhagovelia
collaris.

Family Hydrobatid^e (Hyd-ro-bat'i-dae).

The Water-striders.

On the quiet pools of a running stream or the calm
waters of a protected pond may be found swarms of slender
long-legged insects that seem to find the water surface a
pavement well suited for their airy feet. If your approach
is stealthy you may see them resting motionless as if ab¬
sorbed in gazing at their own reflections in the mirror below
them ; but disturb them, and so swiftly do they move
that they seem but darting lines as they circle around and
around each other in a mystic dance. If you watch them
closely you may see one leap into the air after some approach-
ing insect.

These are the true Water-striders. In some of them the

body is long and narrow, as
shown in Figure 157; in
others it is oval ; but in all
it is widest back of the pro¬
thorax, thus differing from
the form seen in the pre¬
ceding family.

In the winter they stow

Fig. 15 7.-HygrotrechuS con/orntis. themselves away under the

banks or at the bottom of the water, and do not come to

136

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

the surface until lured there by the warm weather of spring.
They then lay their eggs, gluing them fast to water-plants.

There are members of this family that live on the sur¬
face of the ocean, hundreds of miles from land.

Family LlMNOBATlDAi (Lim-no-bat'i-dae).

% The Marsh-t readers.

Only a single species of this family, the Marsh-t reader,
Lvmnobates lineata (Lim-nob'a-tes lin-e-a'ta), is found in the
United States. This is represented greatly
enlarged by Figure 158. Although not an
uncommon species, it is rarely seen on ac¬
count of its small size and quiet habits. It
can be recognized by its linear form and
the great length of its head, which is longer
than the thorax. It crawls about on the
surface of the water or mud, or climbs upon
water-plants and sticks projecting from the
water ; it seems to prefer stagnant ponds
or marshes. We do not know upon what
it feeds.

Family Emesid JE (E-mes'i-dae).

The Thread-legged Bugs.

This family includes a small number of insects in which
the body is very slender and the middle and hind legs are
thread-like; but the fore
legs are fitted for grasping,
resembling much those of
the Mantes. Our most
common species is the
Long-legged Emesa, Eme-
sa longipes (Em'e-sa lon'-
gi-pes), which is repre¬
sented by Figure 1 59. This Fig. 159. — Emesa longipes.

is found upon trees, or sometimes swinging by its long legs
from the roofs of sheds or barns. It is predaceous.

Fig. 158. — Limnobates
lineata .

HEMIPTERA .

137

Family Reduviid^e (Red-u-vi'i-dae).

The Assassin-bugs .

There are many bugs which destroy their fellows, but
the members of this family are so pre-eminently predaceous
that we call them the Assassin-bugs. Although they usually
live on the blood of insects, in some cases they attack the
higher animals, and occasionally even man suffers from
them. Care should be used in collecting them, as some
are apt to inflict painful stings with their beaks. In this
family the beak is only three-jointed, and when not in use
the tip rests in a groove between the fore legs. The family is
a very large one, containing more than a hundred American
species.

In the Atlantic States one sometimes finds, in basements
and in rooms but little used, a bug which presents a very
curious appearance from having its body and legs completely
covered with dust, so that it looks like a living mass of lint
as it moves around. This is the Masked Bed-bug Hunter,
Opsicoetus personatus (Op-si-cce'tus pcr-so-na'tus). This
species infests houses for the sake of preying
upon bed-bugs ; it also feeds upon flies and other
insects. Its mask is worn only during youth, and
consists of particles of dust and fibres which ad¬
here to a sticky substance with which the body,
legs, and antennae are covered. The adult is
black or very dark brown, and is represented by
Figure 160.

A closely allied species, which is black marked siccetus per -
with red, insinuates itself into beds for a less com- sonatus-
mendable purpose than that of its ally, for it sucks human
blood at first hand. This insect occurs in the Southern and
Western States ; it is the Big Bed-bug, Conor hinus sanguisu-
gus (Co-nor'hi-nus san-gui-su'gus). Nearly all the members
of this family, however, live upon trees and other plants, and
prey upon insects.

133

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Fig. 161.

Family NABIDiE (Nab'i-dae).

The Damsel-bugs.

We have called the members of this family the Damsel-
bugs for want of a better name, “ little girl ” being the mean¬
ing of Coriscus , the scientific name of our most common
genus.

Figure 161 represents a wing-cover of a member of this
family, and will illustrate the venation char¬
acteristic of it, although in some species the
wings are usually rudimentary. We have two
common members of this family, one blonde
and the other black.

The Blonde Damsel-bug, Coriscus ferns (Co-ris'cus fe'rus),
is about one-third inch in length, and pale yellow, with nu¬
merous minute brown dots. This species is widely distrib¬
uted, both in this country and in Europe. It
secretes itself in flowers or among the foliage of
various herbaceous plants, and captures small in¬
sects, upon which it feeds. There are several
other species that closely resemble this one.

The Black Damsel-bug, Coriscus subcoleoptratus
(sub-co-le-op-tra'tus) (Fig. 162), is very common in
the Northern States. It is of a shining jet-black
color, with the edge of the abdomen and the legs yellowish.
Usually this species has very short, rudimentary wings, but
a form with long wings is sometimes found.

Family PHYMATID/E (Phy-mat'i-dce).

The Ambush-bugs .

The most common member of this family is Phymata
wolffii (Phy-ma'ta wolfi-i) (Fig. 163). It is a greenish
insect, with a black band across the broadly expanded
abdomen. It conceals itself in flowers, and captures
Fig. 163. the insects which come to sip nectar. It is espe-
1 wolffii* daily abundant among the flowers of the golden-rod.

Fig. 162. —
Coriscus
subcoleop¬
tratus.

HEMIPTERA .

139

It has wonderfully strong, grasping front legs, and can over¬
come insects much larger than itself.

Family Aradid^E (A-rad'i-dae).

The Flat-bugs .

These are the flattest of all bugs, the body appearing as
if it had been stepped upon. They live in the cracks
or under the bark of decaying trees. The form of
the body is especially adapted for gliding about in
these cramped situations. They are usually of a
dull -brown color, but are sometimes varied with rX?adus
reddish or pale markings. Figure 164 represents acuiUSm
a common species.

Family Tingitid^e (Tin-git'i-dae).

The Lace-bugs .

Dainty as fairy brides are these tiny, lace-draped insects.
One glance at the fine white meshes that cover the wings
and spined thorax is sufficient to distinguish them from
all other insects, for these are the only ones that are clothed
from head to foot in fine white Brussels net. They live upon

Fig. 165. — Corythuca. arcu-
cita. (From the Author’s
Report for 1879.)

Fig. 166.— Eggs and
nymph of Coryth uca
arcuata. (From the
Author’s Report for
1879.)

the juices of plants, and in the case of the Hawthorn Tingis
(Fig., 165) sometimes prove too numerous for the health of
their plant host.

140

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

They are very small insects, rarely measuring more than
one eighth of an inch in length. Their eggs are fastened to
leaves, and covered by a brown, sticky substance ; they
appear more like fungi than like the eggs of other insects
(Fig. 1 66).

Family ACANTHinxs (Ac-an-thi'i-dae).

The Bed-bug and the Flower-bugs .

The Bed-bug, AcantJiia lectularia (A-can'thi-a lec-tu-la'-
ri-a), is a well-known pest over the greater part
of the world. It is reddish brown in color,
and measures when full-grown from one-sixth
to one-fifth inch in length. The body is ovate

Fig. 167.— Acan- . . /T-,. /? \ T *

thia lectularia. m outline and is very flat (rig. 107). It is
wingless, or has very short and rudimentary wing-covers.

The Bed-bug is a nocturnal insect, hiding by day in the
cracks of furniture and beneath various objects. Bed-bugs
are easily destroyed by wetting the cracks in which they
hide with corrosive sublimate dissolved in alcohol. This is
sold by druggists under the name of bed-bug poison. Py-
rethrum powder blown into the cracks will destroy these
insects, and, unlike corrosive sublimate, is not poisonous to
man. A closely allied species, A . hirundinis (hir-un-di'nis)
occurs in nests of the barn-swallow.

There are certain small bugs that are closely allied to the
Bed-bug, but which have wing-covers that are almost always
fully developed. These are the Flower-bugs.

They are found in a great variety of situations,
often upon trees and flowers, sometimes under
bark or rubbish. They are predaceous. Figure IG# l68‘
168 represents a wing-cover of one of these insects.

Family CAPSID^E (Cap'si-dse).

The Leaf -bugs.

This is the largest family of the Heteroptera; the
members of it live chiefly upon the leaves of plants,

HEM IP TER A.

141

from which they derive their nourishment, but
some of them are predaceous. The most avail¬
able character for distinguishing these insects is
the structure of the wing-covers ; at the base of Fig* i69#
the membrane there are one or two cells, otherwise the
membrane is without veins (Fig. 169).

More than two hundred species belonging to this fam-
ily are known to occur in the United States.

Vj/j Figure 170 represents the Four-lined Leaf-bug,
Poscilocapsus lineatus (Poe-cil-o-cap'sus lin-e-a'tus),
J W \ a yellow bug, with its prothorax and wing-
Fig. 170 .—Pacii. covers marked with black, which is abundant
7u/sus linea’ hi early summer on the leaves of currant-
bushes and of sage.

Family PYRRHOCORID^E (Pyr-rho-cor'i-das).

The Red-bug Family.

The members of this family are rather stout and heavily
formed bugs, and are generally black or brown,
marked with red. Some members of the next
family resemble these in markings, but the two
families can be distinguished by the venation of F|G* I7I#
the membrane of the wing-covers. In this family there are
two large cells at the base of the membrane, and from these
arise branching veins (Fig. 171).

The most important species of this family is the Red-bug,
or Cotton-stainer, Dysdercus suturellus (Dys-der'cus su-tu-
rel'lus) (Fig. 172). The adult is of a reddish color ; the wing-
covers are pale brown, with pale-yellow stripes. The young
are bright red, with black legs. They do much
damage by piercing the stems and bolls of the
cotton-plant and sucking the juices, but do much
more damage by staining the cotton in the open¬
ing bolls. They also puncture the rind of oranges
in Florida, so that decay soon sets in, and the
Fig. i72.— Dys-ixmt drops. These insects can be trapped by
reiius. laying chips of sugar-cane around the cotton*

142

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

fields. In orange-groves heaps of cotton-seed as well as
pieces of sugar-cane will be found useful; the insects will
collect in these places and can be scalded to death.

Family Lyg^EID^E (Ly-gae'i-dae).
The Chinch-bug Family .

This, too, is a large family, about one hundred and
fifty species being known to occur in the
United States. Here the membrane of the
wing-covers is furnished with four or five simple
veins, which arise from the base of the mem¬
brane ; sometimes the two inner veins are joined to a cell
near the base (Fig. 173).

This family contains the Chinch-bug, Blissus leiicopterus
(Blis'sus leu-cop'te-rus), the most destructive member of the
Heteroptera occurring in the United States.

Although quite widely distributed, its injuries
have attracted most attention in the Missis¬
sippi Valley, where it has destroyed many
million dollars’ worth of grain. It is a small Fl{! ^Lsiusus
bug, measuring less than one sixth of an inch ^opurus.
in length. In Figure 174 it is represented slightly enlarged
and greatly enlarged. It is blackish in color, with snowy-
white wing- covers, each marked with a dark spot and
Y-shaped line, as shown in the figure. The species is di¬
morphic, there being a short-winged form.

There are two generations of the Chinch-bug each year ;
they winter as full-grown insects and hide under rubbish.
In the early spring they come forth and lay their eggs in
fields of grain upon the roots or stems beneath the ground.
The eggs hatch in about two weeks. The nymphs are red,
and feed at first upon roots; afterwards they attack the
stalks of the plants they infest. In about fifty days they
get their growth. About this time the whole brood starts
out to find new pastures, and they all march on foot in one
direction, like an army. Although they are tiny insects they

HEMIPTERA .

143

number millions, and so attract much attention. As soon as
they find a new field of grain they lay their eggs there for
another brood.

No satisfactory means of combating this insect was
known until recently. But it has now been ascertained that
it is destroyed by a contagious disease which can be spread
artificially. Diseased bugs are sent to places where the dis.
ease does not exist; and thus the contagion is spread.
Extensive experiments are being carried on in Kansas at the
time of this writing, and the results so far seem very encour¬
aging.

Family BERYTID.<E (Be-ryt'i-dae).

The Stilt-bugs .

This family includes a small number of land bugs, in which
the body, legs, and antennae are very slender, resembling

somewhat the thread-legged bugs
(Emesidae).

The stilt bugs have the tip of
the femora, the tip of the first joint
of the antennae, and the last joint
of the antennae somewhat enlarged
(Fig. 175). Only two species have
been found in the United States.
These are Neides muticus (Ne'i-des
mu'ti-cus), which has a prominent
spine on the vertex of the head ;
and Jalysus spinosus (Jal'y-sus spi-

Fig. 175.—, jalysus spinosus. no^us), which, although spined in
other places, lacks the spine on the vertex.

These are sluggish insects, found in the undergrowth of
woods and in meadows and pastures.

Family COREID.E (Co-re'i-dae).

The Squash-bug Family .

This family is also a very extensive one, including many
species. The best character for distinguishing the members

144 the study of insects.

of it is the nature of the venation of the membrane of the
wing-covers. This part is furnished with many
veins, most of which spring from a cross-vein near
_ . its base (Fig. 176).

Fig. 176. v & / y . . , . ,

The Squash-bug, Anasa tnstis (An a-sa tris -
tis), is a good example of this great family. These when full-
grown are brownish-black bugs, with some yellow spots
along the edges of the abdomen (Fig. 177),
and are dirty yellow on the under side. This
bug winters in the adult state, and takes the
first opportunity in the spring to lay its eggs
on the earliest sprouts of squash and pumpkin
vines. As soon as they hatch, the young bugs
attack the vines and are apt to destroy them
entirely. The remedy is to protect the young
plants by frames covered with netting.

Family PENTATOMlDAi (Pen-ta-tom'i-dae).

The Stink-bug Family.

This is a family the taste and odor of which most of us
know to our sorrow. We learn the flavor in one experience,
and conclude that once is enough for a lifetime. To those
who live in cities it may always remain a mystery why one
berry looking just like another should taste and smell so
differently; but all barefooted boys and sun-bonneted girls
from the country who have picked the wild strawberries on
the hillsides or scratched their hands and faces in raspberry
patches know well the angular green or brown bugs that
leave a loathsome trail behind them ; and they will tell you,
too, that the bugs themselves are worse than their trail, for
it is a lucky youngster that has not taken one of these insects
into his mouth by mistake with a handful of berries.

It should not be concluded, however, that only members
of this family possess this disagreeable odor ; for most of the
Heteroptera protect themselves by rendering their bodies
unpalatable in this way. Doubtless birds soon learn this

Fig. 177. — Anasa
tristis.

HEMIPTERA.

145

fact and leave such bugs alone. But it is to members of
this family that the expressive name given above is com¬
monly applied.

This nauseous odor is caused by a fluid which is excreted
through two openings, one on each side of the lower side of
the body near the middle coxae.

In this family the antennae are five-jointed ; the scu-
tellum, although large, is less than half as long as the abdo.
men ; and the front legs are not fitted for digging
(Fig. 178).

Some species of this family feed upon other
insects, and so are very helpful to the farmer, one
species especially being a gallant fighter against
the potato-beetle. Other species feed entirely
upon vegetables, while others live upon both Flstjnk_7bujT A
vegetable and animal matter.

The Harlequin Cabbage-bug or Calico-back, Murgantia
histronica (Mur-gan'ti-a his-tron'i-ca), is very destructive to
cabbages, radishes, and turnips in the Southern States and
on the Pacific coast. It is black with bands, stripes, and
margins of red or orange or yellow. The full-grown bugs
live through the winter, and in the early spring each female
lays on the under surface of the young leaves about twelve
eggs in two parallel rows. The young bugs arc pale green,
with black spots. They mature in a few days, so there are
many generations in one season. It is difficult to find a
remedy for this pest, but much can be done by placing
cabbage and turnip leaves on the ground in early spring,
and thus trapping them when they first come out of their
winter quarters.

Family Cydnid^E (Cyd'ni-dae).

The Bur rower-bugs.

These are oval, rounded, or elliptical bugs, with five-
jointed antennae; with the scutellum large, but less than
11

146 THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

half as long as the abdomen ; and with the front legs more
or less flattened, fitted for digging (Fig. 179).

The species are generally black or very dark
brown. They are found burrowing in sandy places,
or on the surface of the ground beneath sticks and
vlCyrtome- stones, or at the roots of grass and other herbage.

rabiiis. The family is not a large one. T. he members of it
probably feed upon plants ; but it is desirable that further
observation be made upon the habits of this family.

Family CORIMEL^NID^E (Cor-i-me-laen'i-dae).

The Negro-bugs.

These bugs are mostly black, and are beetle-like in
appearance ; some have a bluish or greenish tinge, and all
are very convex. The scutellum is very convex, and, as in
the following family, covers nearly the whole of the abdo¬
men. But in this family there is at the base of
the scutellum on each side a short furrow into
which the edge of the wing-cover fits when at
rest. All of our species belong to the genus
Corimelcena (Cor-i-me-lce'na).

YmeilnTatra. These insects infest various plants, and often
injure raspberries and other fruit by imparting a disagreeable
odor to them. Fig. 180 represents one of these bugs, some¬
what enlarged.

Family SCUTELLERID.E (Scu-tel-ler'i-dae).

The Shield-backed Bugs.

The members of this family resemble the
negro-bugs in the shape and size of the
scutellum, which covers nearly the whole of
the abdomen ; but the sides of the scutellum
are not furnished with a groove for receiving
the edge of the wing-covers. Fig. 181 repre¬
sents one of these insects enlarged. They
feed upon plants.

Fig. 181.— Euryga*
ter alternate.

HEMIPTERA.

147

Suborder PARASITA (Par-a-si'ta).

The Parasita includes certain parasites of man and other
mammals, commonly known as lice. They are wingless,
and differ from other Hemiptera in having the beak fleshy
and not jointed. This suborder is represented in the United
States by only one family, the Pediculidce .

Family PEDICULID2E (Ped-i-cu'li-dae).

1

The Lice .

This family comprises the true lice, which differ from the
bird-lice of the order Mallophaga in having sucking mouth-
parts. The true lice live on the skin of mammals, and suck
their blood.

There are three species that infest man : one living on
the head, among the hair ; and the other two on the body.
Several species infest our domestic animals. The more

common of these are the louse of the horse (Fig. 182), and
the louse of the cow (Fig. 183).

Various substances are used for destroying lice on domes-
tic animals : among them are a strong infusion of tobacco,

Fig. 183 .—-H. eurysternus .
(From Law.)

Fig. 182. — Hcematopinus
asint, (From Law.)

148

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

an ointment made of one part sulphur and four parts lard,
Scotch snuff, powdered wood ashes, and kerosene emulsion.

The remedy should be applied thoroughly, and repeated
several times at intervals of three or four days, in order to
destroy the young which may hatch after the first application.
The stable and the places where the cattle are in the habit
of rubbing should also be whitewashed or sprayed with
kerosene, or strong kerosene emulsion.

*

Suborder HOMOPTERA (Ho-mop'te-ra).

Cicadas, Leaf-hoppers, Aphids, Scale-bugs and others.

The Homoptera includes insects of widely diversified
form, but which agree, however, in having the wings when
present of the same thickness throughout, and usually slop¬
ing roof-like at the sides of the body when at rest, and in
having the beak arise from the hinder part of the lower side
of the head (Fig. 140, b). The name is from two Greek
words: homos, same; and pteron, a wing.

This suborder includes nine families, which are designated
as follows :

The Cicadas, Family ClCADlDAJ (p. 149).

The Lantern-fly Family, Family Fulgorim: (p. 151).

The Spittle Insects, Family CERCOPID.E (p. 152).

The Leaf-hoppers, Family Jasside (p. 153).

The Tree-hoppers, Family Membracide (p. 154).

The Jumping Plant-lice, Family PSYLLIDE (p. 155).

The Plant-lice, Family Aphidide (p. 156).

The Aleyrodes, Family Aleyrodide (p. 163).

The Scale-bugs, Family COCCIDE (p. 164).

Classification of the Homoptera.

( For advanced students.')

TABLE FOR DETERMINING THE FAMILIES OF THE HOMOPTERA.

A. Beak evidently arising from the head ; tarsi three-jointed ; anten¬
nae minute, bristle-like.

HEM IP TER A.

149

B. With three ocelli, and the males with musical organs. Usually
large insects, with all the wings entirely membranous, p. 149.

Cicadid^e.

BB. Ocelli only two in number or wanting; males without musi¬
cal organs.

C. Antennae inserted on the sides of the cheeks beneath the

eyes. p. . . . Fulgorid^e.

CC. Antennae inserted in front of and between the eyes.

D. Prothorax not prolonged above the abdomen.

E. Hind tibiae armed with one or two stout teeth, and the
tip crowned with short stout spines p. 152... Cercopim:.
EE. Hind tibiae having a row of spines below p. 153. Jassid^e.
DD. Prothorax prolonged into a horn or point above the

abdomen, p. 154 . . * . Membracidas*

AA. Beak apparently arising from between the front legs, or absent;
tarsi one or two jointed ; antennae usually prominent and thread¬
like, sometimes wanting.

B. Tarsi usually two-jointed ; wings when present four in number.

C. Wings transparent.

D. Hind legs fitted for leaping; antennae nine or ten jointed.

p. 155 . PSYLLIDiE.

D. Legs long and slender, not fitted for leaping; antennae

three to seven jointed, p. 156 . Aphidid^e.

CC. Wings opaque, whitish ; wings and body covered with a

whitish powder, p. 163 . ALEYRODlDiE.

BB. Tarsi one-jointed ; adult male without any beak, and with
only two wings; female wingless, with the body either scale¬
like or gall-like in form, or grub-like and clothed with wax. The
waxy covering may be in the form of powder, of large tufts or
plates, of a continuous layer, or of a thin scale beneath which the
insect lives, p. 164 . Coccid^e.

Family ClCADlD/L (Ci-cad'i-dae).

The Cicadas (Ci-ca* das').

The large size and well-known songs of the more common
species of this family render them familiar objects. It is only
necessary to refer to the Periodical Cicada (or the seventeen-
year locust, as it has been improperly termed) and to the

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

150

Dog-day Harvest-fly (Fig. 184) to give an idea of the more
striking characters of this family. We
have several species much smaller than
either of these ; but their characteristic
form and the presence of three ocelli
are sufficient to distinguish them from
the members of the other families.

The Periodical Cicada, Cicada sep -
tcndccim (Ci-ca'da sep-ten'de-cim), is
very generally known in this country,
owing to the great numbers in which
it appears, at long intervals of time.
This periodical appearance is due to
the long time required for the nymphs
Fig. 184.— Cicada tibiccn. Qbtain their growth — either seven¬

teen or thirteen years — and to the fact that all the members
of one generation appear in the adult state at about the same
time. The adult female lays her eggs in slits which she
makes in the twigs of trees. Small fruit is sometimes in¬
jured in this way. The eggs hatch in about six weeks.
The young nymphs finding no attraction in a world of sun¬
shine and of flowers, drop to the ground and bury them¬
selves in the earth, thus commencing a voluntary seclusion
which lasts for years. They live by sucking the juices from
the roots of trees. In May of the seventeenth year after
their retirement to their earthy cloisters they crawl up to
the surface of the ground, like renegade monks ; and, leav*
ing their nymph-skins clinging to the tree-trunks, like cast¬
off garments of penance, they come forth, broad-headed,
broad-bodied, clear-winged creatures, well fitted to get all
the experience possible out of a world whose frivolities they
have so long scorned. But, like other creatures, they find a
life of dissipation very exhausting, and after a few weeks
they sing their last song, lay their eggs, and pass away.

In the South these insects live only thirteen years under

HEMIPTERA. 1 5 I

ground, but in the North it requires seventeen years for a
nymph to reach maturity.

More than twenty distinct broods of this species have
been traced out. In many localities several broods coexist ;
this explains the fact that in such places these insects ap¬
pear several times during a single period of seventeen years.

There is a common species of Cicada known as the Dog-
day Harvest-fly or Lyreman, Cicada tibicen (Ci-ca'da ti-bi'cen),
which requires only two years for its development, and as
there are two broods of this species the adults appear every
year. This Cicada (Fig. 184) is black and green in color,
and more or less powdered beneath. And its song is the
high, sharp trill that comes to us, midsummer noons, from
the depths of trees where the singer is hidden amid the
foliage, all unconscious that its shrill note has for centuries
been a theme for poets.

Family FULGORID^E (Ful-gor'i-dae).

The Lantern- fly Family .

This family is remarkable for certain exotic forms which
it contains. Chief among these is the great Lantern-fly of
Brazil, which is figured in many popular works on insects.
Scarcely less strange are the Candle-flies of China and the
East Indies. The popular names of these insects refer to
the fact that they are phosphorescent, but we know of no
native species that possesses this peculiarity. There does
not seem to be any typical form of the body characteristic
of this family. The different genera differ so greatly, that
on superficial examination they appear to have very little in
common. Some even resemble butterflies and moths, while
others might easily be mistaken for neuropterous genera.

The most useful character for recognizing these insects is
the form and position of the antennas. These are bristle¬
shaped, and inserted in a button-shaped base on the side of

152

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

the cheek beneath the eyes. Although the Fulgoridae are
vegetable feeders, none of our species have attracted the at¬
tention of agriculturists. There are, however, certain exotic
species which do great injury to crops.

The two accompanying figures will serve to show the
wonderful variations in form of these insects; many other
types exist. Figure 185 represents a common species of Sco-
lops (Sco'lops), which occurs in grassy places. In this genus
the head is greatly prolonged, as with the exotic Candle-flies.

Fig. 185. — Sc o l op s. Fig. 186. — Ormenis septen¬

trional is.

Figure 186 represents Ormenis septentrionalis (Or'me-nis sep-
ten-tri-o-na'lis), a beautiful pale-green species powdered with
white, which feeds on wild grape-vines, drawing nourishment
from the tender shoots and mid-ribs of the leaves during its
young stages.

Family CERCOPID/E (Cer-cop'i-dae).

The Spittle Insects or Frog-hoppers .

During the summer months one often finds upon various
shrubs and herbs masses of white froth. In the midst of
each of these masses there lives a young insect, a member of
this family. In some cases as many as four or five insects
inhabit the same mass of foam. The froth is supposed to
consist of sap, which the insect has pumped from the plant,
by means of its beak, and passed through its alimentary
canal. It is asserted that these insects undergo all their
transformations within this mass ; that when one is about to
molt for the last time, a clear space is formed about its
body ; the superficial part of the foam dries, so as to form a
vaulted roof to a closed chamber, within which the change

HEMIPTERA.

153

of the skin is made. The adult insects wander about on
herbage and trees. They have the power of leaping well.
The name frog-hoppers has doubtless grown out of the fact
that formerly the froth was called “ frog-spittle,” and was
supposed to have been voided by tree-frogs from their
mouths. The name is not, however, inappropriate, for the
broad and depressed form of our more common species is
something like that of a frog.

In this family the antennas are inserted in front of and
between the eyes ; the prothorax is not prolonged back of the
abdomen (as in the Membracidae) ; and the tibiae
are armed with one or two stout teeth, and the
tip crowned with short, stout spines, as shown in
Figure 187. This figure represents the most com- r g ^ ^
mon spittle insect of the Eastern United States, rophora quad-

r r • / a 1 1 / 1 rangularis.

Aphrophora quaarangulans (A-phroph o-ra quad-
ran-gu-la'ris), and one of its tibiae greatly enlarged.

Family JASSID./E (Jas'si-dae).

The Leaf -hoppers.

The most abundant members of the Homoptera, except
perhaps the Aphids, are the leaf-hoppers. Large numbers
of them can be easily collected by sweeping grass, herbage,
or the foliage of shrubs.

The leaf-hoppers are more slender than the spittle insects,
and are also distinguished by the form of the
hind tibiae, which are nearly or quite as long as
the abdomen, curved, and armed with a row of
spines on each margin (Fig. 188).

Fig. 188. — proco- Among the leaf-hoppers that have attracted

ma undata. a^entjon on account of their injuries to vegeta¬
tion are the following: The destructive Leaf-hopper, Cicadula
exitiosa (Ci-cad'u-la ex-it-i-o'sa), which is represented greatly
enlarged by Figure 189, sometimes infests winter wheat
to a serious extent in the Southern States. The Grape-

154

THE STUDY CF INSECTS.

vine Leaf-hopper, Erythroneura vitis (E-ryth-ro-

(4 neu'ra vi'tis), is a well-known pest that infests the
leaves of the grape. It is about one-eighth inch
W in length, crossed by two blood-red bands, and a
un third dusky one at the apex. It is often improp.
& erly called the “ Thrip” by grape-growers. But
^ J the term Thrip or better Thrips should be restricted
to members of the order Physopoda. The Rose
¥lcicaduFa Leaf-hopper, Empoa rosce (Em'po-a ro'sae), is also a
(FromThe well-known pest, as it often swarms on the leaves
Reporter °f roses, doing great damage. Its presence is
l879 ) usually indicated by numerous white cast skins
adhering to the lower side of the leaves.

The leaf-hoppers can be destroyed by a strong solution
of soap, or with kerosene emulsion. In vineyards, where the
use of these substances would injure the fruit, they can be
trapped by two persons carrying a screen covered with
tarred paper on one side of a row of vines, while a third per¬
son walking on the other side of the row frightens them
from the vines on to the screen. Dead leaves and other
rubbish, among which these insects hibernate, should be
burned during the winter.

Family Membracid^e (Mem-brac'i-dae).

The Tree-hoppers .

Nature must have been in a joking mood when tree-
hoppers were developed, for these little creatures are most

Fig. 190. — Tree hoppers.

HEM I P TER A .

155

comically grotesque in appearance. In general outline
they resemble beech-nuts, except that many have humps on
their backs. The prothorax is prolonged back¬
ward like a roof over the body, often quite covering
it. If the young entomologist wishes to laugh, let
him look at the faces of tree-hoppers through a
lens (Fig. 190). Their eyes always have a keen,F^«^iT
droll look, and the line that separates the head balus%
from the prothorax gives them the appearance of wearing
glasses. In some cases the prothorax is elevated
above the head, so that it looks like a peaked
nightcap ; in others it is shaped like a Tam-o’-
¥xchenlpabit Shanter ; and sometimes it has horns, one on each
side, which have given one species the name of
the Buffalo Tree-hopper.

Many species of this family live upon bushes or small
trees, and are all good leapers ; hence the com¬
mon name, Tree-hoppers. Some species ex¬
crete honey-dew, and are attended by ants.

All feed upon plants, but they seldom appear fig. ,94.— Teia-
in sufficient numbers to do much damage.

The accompanying figures will show some of the more
common forms seen in this strange family (Figs. 191-194).

Family PSYLLID.E (Psyl'li-dae).

The Jumping Plant-lice.

The jumping plant-lice are comparatively small insects;
our more common species measuring only from one-eighth
to one-sixth inch in length, and it is rare that we find any
twice that size. When examined with a lens
they appear like tiny Cicadas (Fig. 195).
Their hind legs are formed for jumping; their
antennae are nine or ten jointed, and their
tarsi are only two-jointed. Figure 197 repre¬
sents the wings of a common species.
FlGcn?argcdSylla' The Psyllidae subsist entirely upon the

156 THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

juices of plants, and some of them cause serious injuries.
Many species form galls ; one of the larger of these infest
the Celtis or Hackberry.

Fig. 197. — Venation of Wings: stigma;
r, clavus; c. s.t claval suture.

The most destructive member of this family in the
United States is the Pear-tree Psylla, Psylla pyricola (Psyl'la
py-ric'o-la). This is a minute species, measuring only one-
tenth inch in length to the tip of the folded wings (Fig.
196). But it occurs in such large numbers that it has
destroyed extensive pear orchards, by sucking the sap from
the smaller limbs and twigs. It can be destroyed by
spraying the infested trees with kerosene emulsion imme
diately after the leaves have expanded in the spring.

Family Aphidid^e (A-phid'i-dae).

The Plant-lice or Aphids ( Aph'ids ).

The plant-lice are well-known insects; they infest nearly
all kinds of vegetation in all parts of the country. Our
most common examples are minute,
soft-bodied, green insects, with long
legs and antennae, which appear on
various plants in the house and in the
field. Among our common species are
both winged and wingless forms (Fig. Fig. 198.— a Group of Aphids.
198). There are a great number of species, nearly all of

HEMIPTERA .

iS7

which are of small size. In our largest species the body
measures only about one-fourth inch in length, and usually
these insects are very much smaller.

The body is usually more or less pear-shaped. The
winged forms have two pairs of delicate, transparent wings.
These are furnished with a few simple veins, but the vena¬
tion is more extended than in either of the two following
families. The first pair of wings is larger than the other,
and the two wings of each side are usually connected by a
compound booklet. The beak is three-jointed, and varies
greatly in length ; sometimes it is longer than the body.
The compound eyes are prominent, and ocelli are also
usually present. The antennas are from three to seven
jointed. On the back of the sixth abdominal segment there
is, in many species, a pair of tubes, through which a wax¬
like material is excreted. In some genera these organs are
merely perforated tubercles, while in still other genera they
are wanting.

The substance known as honey-dew is excreted from
the posterior end of the alimentary canal. It is sometimes
produced in such quantities that it forms a glistening coat¬
ing on the leaves of the branches below the plant-lice,
and stone walks beneath shade-trees are often densely
spotted with it. This honey-dew is fed upon by bees, wasps,
and ants. The bees and wasps take the food where they
find it, paying little if any attention to its source ; but the
ants recognize in the plant-lice useful auxiliaries, and often
care for them as men care for their herds. This curious re¬
lationship will be discussed farther under the head of Ants.

It is easy to see what benefit ants derive from this asso¬
ciation with plant-lice, and how they should learn that it is
worth while for them to care for their herds of honey pro¬
ducing cattle. Little has been done, however, to point out
the great benefit that accrues to the plant-lice from this re¬
lationship. It seems fair to assume that the plant-lice are
greatly benefited, else why has the highly specialized appa-

158

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

ratus for producing the honey-dew been developed ? Writers
long ago showed that ants protect plant-lice by driving away
from them lady-bugs and other enemies. Recently, how¬
ever, Professor Forbes has demonstrated that, in certain
cases at least, a more important service is rendered. In his
studies of the Corn Plant-louse, Aphis maidis (A'phis
mai'dis), he found that this species winters in the wingless,
agamic form in the earth of previously infested corn-fields,
and that in the spring the plant-lice are strictly dependent
upon a species of ant, Lasius alienus (Las'i-us al-i-e'nus),
which mines along the principal roots of the corn, collects
the plant-lice, and conveys them into these burrows, and
there watches and protects them. Without the aid of these
ants, the plant-lice were unable to reach the roots of the corn.

In addition to honey-dew, many Aphids excrete a white
substance. This may be in the form of powder, scattered
over the surface of the body, or it may be in large floccu-
lent or downy masses ; every gradation between these forms
exists.

The plant-lice are remarkable for their peculiar mode of
development. The various species differ greatly in the de¬
tails of their transformation, but the following generaliza¬
tions can be made.

There are several distinct forms in each species, each
form playing a peculiar part in the history of the species.
If a colony of plant-lice be examined during the summer
months it will be found, usually, to consist very largely of
wingless individuals ; these are females, which reproduce
without the intervention of males. This is the wingless
agamic form . In many cases this form gives birth to living
young, instead of laying eggs; and the reproduction of
this form is so rapid, that it would be disastrous to the
species, by the destruction of the infested plants and the
consequent starving of the insects, if another form of the
species did not arise. But from time to time young are
produced which become winged, and thus the spread of

HEMIPTERA.

159

the species is provided for. This winged form also con¬
sists entirely of females, and is known as the winged agamic
. form. They produce in turn the wingless agamic form, a
single, winged individual, which has flown to a new plant,
starting a new colony. Generally on the setting in of cold
weather, or in some cases on the failure of nourishment,
the weather being still warm, there is produced a generation
including individuals of both sexes. These are known as
the sexual forms. The males may be either winged or
wingless, but these true females are always wingless. The
sexual forms pair, and the female produces one or more
eggs. It is in this state that the species usually pass
the winter, and consequently these eggs produced by the
sexual form are often called the winter eggs, to distinguish
them from eggs produced by the agamic forms of certain
species, and which are incorrectly termed pseudova (pseu¬
do' va). From the winter egg there hatches, usually in the
spring, an agamic female, which, as she is the stock from
which the summer generations spring, is often called the
stem-mother. The peculiar reproduction of the agamic
forms is often termed reproduction by budding.

Plant-lice are often very destructive to vegetation. The
ordinary methods of combating them are either by the use
of a strong solution of soap or with kerosene emulsion.

Plant-lice vary greatly in their habits. Certain species
live in the ground on the roots of plants. The Lettuce
Earth-louse, Rhizobius laetucce (Rhi-zo'bi-us lac-tu'cae), is a
good illustration. This occurs on the roots of lettuce, often in
great numbers. Other species are found on the roots of grasses
or herbaceous plants and usually accompanied by ants.

On the other hand, many species, in fact the majority of
Aphids, pass their lives on the foliage of plants, infesting
especially the tenderer leaves. Familiar examples are the
Cabbage Aphis, Aphis brassicce (A'phis bras'si-cae), the Apple-
tree Aphis, Aphis mali, the Cherry tree Aphis, Mysus cerasi
(My'sus cer'a-si), and the Peach-tree Aphis, Mysus persicce

I^° THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

(My'sus per'si-cae). The last three are almost invariably
attended by ants.

The Plant-lice of the genus Lachnus (Lach'nus) are
usually found on the limbs of trees and shrubs. To this
genus belong our largest Aphids, some of
them measuring one-fourth inch in length.
Figure 199 represents one of these enlarged.
Fig. I w.-Lachnus. Some species of plant-lice live both on
the roots and on the leaves of plants. One
of these is the Grape Phylloxera, Phylloxera vastatrix (Phyl-
lox-e'ra vas-ta'trix), which is the most important enemy of
the grape. The presence of this insect is manifested by the
vines in two ways: first, in the case of certain species of
grapes, there appear upon the lower surface of the leaves
fleshy swellings, which are more or less wrinkled and hairy ;
these are hollow galls, opening upon the upper surface of
the leaf, and containing a wingless agamic plant-louse and
her eggs ; second, when the fibrous roots of a sickly vine are
examined, we find, if the disease is due to this insect, that
the minute fibres have become swollen and knotty; or, if
the disease is far advanced, they may be entirely decayed.
Upon these root-swellings we also find an agamic, wingless,
egg-laying plant - louse, the author of the mischief. The
insects found upon the roots differ slightly from those found
within the galls, but their specific identity is now generally
accepted.

Owing to the great injury which this species has done to
the vineyards of France, hundreds of memoirs have been
published regarding it. But as yet no satisfactory means of
destroying it has been discovered. The difficulty lies in the
fact that the insecticide must be one that can penetrate the
ground to the depth of three or four feet, reaching all the
fibrous roots infested by the insect. It must be a substance
that can be cheaply applied on a large scale, and it must
also be something that will kill the insect without injury to

HEMIPTERA.

r6l

the vine. Carbon bisulphide has been used to some extent
for this purpose.

Where the vineyards are so situated that they can be
submerged for a period of at least forty days during the
winter, the insect can be drowned. But this method is
obviously of limited application.

It is found that vines growing in very sandy soil resist
the attacks of the Grape Phylloxera. This is supposed to be
due to the difficulty experienced by the insect in finding
passage through such soil.

Another well-known example of the plant-lice that make
galls is Colopha ulmicola (Col'o-pha ul-mic'o-la), which makes
the Cockscomb Elm-gall. This gall is shaped more or less
like a cock’s comb, and is very common on the upper side of
the leaves of the elm.

There is a group of species of plant-lice known as the
Woolly Aphids, on account of a white more or less downy
or waxy substance with which the bodies of these insects are
covered. Large numbers of one of these species are often
found crowded together on the under side of the branches of
alder. This species is known as the Alder-blight, Schizoneura
tessellata (Schiz-o-neu'ra tes-sel-la'ta). In addition to the
white excretion with which the body is covered this insect
excretes large quantities of honey-dew. The result is that
the branches infested by this insect, and those beneath the
clusters of Aphids, become blackened with fungi that grow
upon this secretion. There is also a curious fungus which
grows in large spongy masses immediately beneath the clus¬
ters of plant-lice; this is known to botanists as Scorias
spongiosum. It is evidently fed by the honey-dew that falls
upon it.

The Beech-tree Blight, Schizoneura imbricator (im-bri-
ca'tor), infests both the twigs and leaves of beech. Like
the preceding species it occurs in clusters of individuals,
each of which is clothed with a conspicuous downy excre¬
tion. These clusters often attract attention by the curious
13

162

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

habit that the insects have of waving their bodies up and
down, the plume-like masses of excretion rendering them
very conspicuous. When an infested limb is jarred the
Aphids emit a shower of honey-dew. Owing to the abun
dance of this secretion, the branches and leaves of an infested
tree become blackened by growths of fungi, as with the
preceding species.

The Woolly-louse of the Apple, Schizoneura lanigera
(la-nig'e-ra), is one of the best-known pests of the fruit¬
grower. In its most conspicuous form it appears on the
trunks and limbs of apple-trees, in clusters of individuals,
which are conspicuous on account of the woolly excretion
with which the bodies are covered. It is especially in*
jurious to young trees, the bark of which becomes deeply
pitted and scarred by its attacks. The bark apparently
ceases to grow at the point of attack, but swells into a
large ridge about the cluster of lice, leaving them in a
sheltered pit. The lice also frequently congregate in the
axils of the leaves and the forks of the branches. This
species resembles the Grape Phylloxera in having a root-
inhabiting form, which causes knotty swellings on the fibrous
roots. It is the presence of this form that makes this
pest such a difficult one to combat. For as it works deep
in the ground upon the fibrous roots of trees, the same
difficulties are met in attempting to destroy it that are pre¬
sented by the Grape Phylloxera. In fact, except in case of
an especially valuable tree, we do not believe that it will pay
to attempt to save a tree that has become badly infested
by the woolly aphis. It will be cheaper to dig the tree up
and burn it, and devote the ground to some other use.
Another species of tree can be safely planted in the same
place, but not an apple. Great care should be taken in
putting out trees from a nursery to see that they are free from
this pest. If there is any doubt the trees should be washed,
roots and all, in a strong solution of soap. It is well also to
put in the forks of the trees pieces of ha**d soars which will

HEM/P TER A .

Ib3

be dissolved and washed down by the rains. This will serve
to destroy certain other pests, as well as the woolly aphis.
In case it is desired to rid an infested tree of this pest, the
trunk form should be washed off with a strong solution of
soap applied with a sponge, taking care to destroy all eggs ;
and the ground should be treated with carbon bisulphide, as
for the Grape Phylloxera.

Family ALEYRODIDiE (Al-eu-rod'i-dae).

The A/eyrodes (A l-eu-ro'des).

The insects of the genus Aleyrodes were for a long time
classed with the Coccidae. In their immature state they are
scale-like in form (Fig. 200), and often somewhat resemble
certain species of Lecanium. But the
mature insects differ so much from the
Coccids that the genus has been sepa¬
rated as a distinct family. They are very
small insects; the species with which I
am acquainted have an expanse of
wings of about one eighth of an inch.

Both sexes are winged ; and, as with
other Hemiptera except the Coccids,
there are two pairs of wings. In the adult state, all the
species are nearly of the same color ; the wings are white,
sometimes spotted ; the body is usually yellowish, sometimes
pinkish, and more or less spotted with black. The most
striking character presented by the adults, in addition to the
fact that both sexes are winged and each has two pairs of
wings, is the presence of a whitish powder with which the
wings and body are covered. It is this character that
suggests the name of the genus, which is from the Greek
aleurodes , like flour.

Fig. 200. — Aleyrodet.

ie>4

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Family COCCIM (Coc'ci-dae).

The Scale-bugs or Bark-lice , Mealy-bugs , and others .

The family Coccidas includes the Mealy-bugs, the Scale*
bugs or Bark-lice, and certain other insects for which there
are no popular names. In this family we find those mem¬
bers of the Hemiptera that depart most widely from the
type of the order. In fact this is a very anomalous group,
the species differing greatly in appearance, habits, and meta¬
morphoses from those of the most closely allied families.
Not only do the members of this family appear very unlike
other insects, but there is a wonderful variety of forms within
the family, and even the two sexes of the same species differ
as much in the adult state as members of distinct orders.

The males of Coccidae, unlike all other Hemiptera,
undergo a complete metamorphosis. The adult males have
only a single pair of wings, the hind wings being represented
by a pair of club-like halteres. Each of these is furnished
with a bristle, which in all the species we have studied is
hooked, and fits in a pocket on the wing of the same side
(Fig. 202). The male in the adult state has no organs for
procuring food, as the mouth-parts disappear during the
metamorphosis of the insect, and a second pair of eyes ap¬
pear in their place. The adult female is always wingless,
and the body is either scale-like or gall-like in form, or grub-
like and clothed with wax. The waxy covering may be in
the form of powder, of large tufts or plates, of a continuous
layer, or of a thin scale, beneath which the insect lives.

Among the Coccidae are found many of the most serious
pests of horticulturists. Scarcely any kind of fruit is free
from their attacks, and certain species of scale-insects and
mealy-bugs are constant pests in conservatories. The ease
with which these insects or their eggs can be transported
long distances while yet alive, on fruit or living plants, has

HEMIPTERA. l65

caused many species that infest cultivated plants to become
world-wide in distribution.

During recent years much attention has been paid to
devising methods of destroying these pests. Various soapy

Fig. 202. — The Scurfy Bark-louse. Chionaspts furfur us : 1. scales natural size; xa,
scale of male enlarged ; x£, adult male enlarged ; 1 c, scale of female enlarged.

or alkaline washes, and one made of lime, salt, and sulphur, are
now used on the trees with deciduous foliage; the wash is
applied during the winter while the trees are naked. In the
case of orange and lemon trees, which are constantly clothed
with leaves, a large tent is lowered over the tree and a

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

1 66

poisonous gas (hydrocyanic-acid gas) is generated within the
tent.

A number of useful insects belong to this family. Several
species furnish dye-stuffs. The best known of these is
Coccus cacti , the dried bodies of which are known as Cochi¬
neal. The stick lac of commerce, from which shell-lac or
shellac is prepared, is a resinous substance excreted by
a species, Carieria lacca (Car-ter'i-a lac'ca), which lives on
the young branches of several tropical trees, and the bodies
of these insects, which are obtained from the stick lac, furnish
the coloring agents known as lac dye. China wax is another
substance for which we are indebted to this family. It is the
excretion of an insect known as Pe-la, Ericerus pe-la (E-ri-
ce'rus). In fact many species of this family excrete wax in
considerable quantities.

Among the more prominent members of this family are
the following:

The Cottony-cushion Scale, Icerya purchasi (I-ce'ry-a

pur'cha-si). — This beautiful in
sect (Fig. 203) was at one time
the most dangerous insect
pest in California, and did a
great amount of injury. It is
an introduced Australian spe¬
cies, and has been subdued to
a great extent by the intro¬
duction of an Australian Lady-
bug, Vcdalia (V e-da'li-a), which
preys upon it. The body of
the adult female is scale-like,
dark orange-red, and has the
dorsal surface more or less

lowish-white powder. The in-

Report for 1880.)

sect secretes a large egg-sac, which is beautifully ribbed.
The Mealy-bugs, Dactylopius (Dac-ty-lo'pi-us). — The

HEM IP TER A,

1 67

Fig.

206 —Kermes sp., on Quercus agri/oli <*. Adult females on stem; immature males
on leaves. (From the Author’s Report for 1880.)

Fig. 204 .—Dactylopius longispi-
nus , female, enlarged. (From
the Author’s Report for 1880.)

Fig. 205. — Dactylopius citriy fe¬
male, enlarged. (From the
Author’s Report for 1880.)

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

1 68

Mealy Bugs are the most common and the most noxious of
green-house pests ; and in the warmer regions, as in Florida,
they infest plants in the open air. Two species are shown
greatly enlarged in Figures 204 and 205. These insects are
extremely difficult to combat, as the white powder with
which the body is clothed protects them from the sprays
and washes ordinarily used.

Kernies . — Species of this genus are common upon oaks
wherever they grow. These insects are remarkable for the
wonderful gall-like form of the adult females. So striking is
this resemblance, that they have been mistaken for galls by
many entomologists. Figure 206 represents a species of this
genus upon Quercus agrifolia . The gall-like swellings on the
stem are the adult females ; the smaller scales on the leaves
are the immature males.

Orthezia (Or-the'zi-a). — The members of this genus

occur not uncommonly on vari¬
ous weeds. They are remark¬
able for the calcareous’secretion
with which the body is clothed.
This is in the form of long
plates. Figure 207 represents
a nymph ; in the adult female
the secretion becomes more
elongated posteriorly, and
forms a sac containing the eggs
mixed with a fine down. Later

1

when the young are born, they
remain in the sac till they have
themselves secreted a sufficient
FlG' 3£' Aufhor4laeVorntYo?,d880!rrora amount of tile lamellar matter

to cover them.

Pulvinaria (Pul-vi-na'ria). — This genus includes species
in which the body of the female resembles Lccanium, de¬
scribed below, but which excrete a large cottony egg-sac.
This egg-sac is not ribbed, but is of the form shown in

HEM IP TER A .

169

Fig. 209. — Lecanium olect : 1 a, insect enlarged. ("From the Author's Report for 1880.)

plants, both in conservatories and in the open air. Some of
them are known to gardeners as “ soft-scales.” But the

Figure 208. The species figured here is sometimes very
injurious to maple-trees; it also infests grape-vines and
other plants.

Fig. 208. — Pulvinaria innumerabilts. Female on grape, natural size. (From the
Author’s Report for 1880.)

Lecanium (Le-ca'ni-um). — The species of the genus Le¬
canium abound everywhere ; they occur on all kinds of

170

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

scientific name is coming into general use ; it is a common
thing now to hear fruit-growers speak of the Lecaniums,
especially in California. The Lecaniums are naked scale
insects, the scale being the body of the insect. These
insects are flattish or more or less hemispherical, the differ¬
ent species differing in form, and are usually dark brown in

color. The eggs, or the young in the viviparous species, are
deposited beneath the scale-like body of the female. Figure
209 represents Lecanium olece (o'le-ae), which is very com.
mon in California, where it is known as the black scale;
Figure 210, the soft scale, Lecanium hesperidum (hes-per'i-
dum), which is common on various plants in all parts of

HEM IP TER A.

171

this country; and Figure 21 I, the hemispherical scale,
Lecanium hemisphcericum (hem-i-sphaer'i-cum), which occurs
in conservatories everywhere, and in the open air in Cali¬
fornia.

The Armored-scales Sub-family Diaspince (Di-as-pi'nae). —
The great majority of the common scale insects of this

country differ from the forms described above in that the
body of the insect, except for a very short period after
birth, is covered with a scale composed in part of an excre¬
tion of the insect and partly of molted skins. Thus in the
Lecaniums the scale-like object is the body of the insect;
but in the case of the Oyster-shell Bark-louse, the Pernicious

172

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Scale, and of many other forms, the scale-like object com¬
monly seen is not the insect, but an armor beneath which it
lives.

The young insects of this sub-family resemble in general
appearance those of other scale insects. Their active stage,
however, is much shorter. After crawling about over the

i lG* 2I2« — Chionaspis pinifolite ; 2, scales on Pinus strobus, natural size, leaves stunted;
2<z, leaves of P. strobus not stunted by scale insects; 2/5, scale of female, usual
form, enlarged ; 2 c, scale of female, wide f jrrn, ; si, scale of male en¬

larged.

twigs of a tree for a few days, the young scale insect settles
upon a suitable place and immediately begins to excrete
a cottony substance which soon becomes compacted into a
thin pellicle covering the body. As the insect grows and
needs to shed its skin, this cast skin is joined to the excretion
and forms a part of the scale. This is the bright-colored,
nipple-like prominence, seen in the centre of the Pernicious

HEMIPTERA.

1 73

Scale and of the Red Scale of the Orange ; and it may be seen
at the smaller end of the scale of the Oyster-shell Bark-louse.
The position of this cast skin in the scale differs in differ¬
ent genera, and forms a good character for classification.

Closely allied species differ but little in the form of the
scale. To distinguish these it is necessary to study the

Fig. 213. — Aspidiatus aurantii ; scales on leaves of orange, natural size; m, adult male»
much enlarged; 1 3, scale of female enlarged; 1 c, scale of male, enlarged.

insects themselves, which are found beneath the scales
The distinctions between closely allied species are such,
that it requires very close observation and much skill in this
particular line to make the determinations, a careful prepa¬
ration of the specimens and an excellent microscope being
necessary requisites.

The different species of scale-insects vary as regards their
food habits. We find that certain species infest particular

174

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

plants and will feed upon no others ; thus, the Red-scale of
the Orange does not trouble deciduous fruits. On the other
hand, other species have a wide range of food plants. This
is the case of the Greedy-scale, which infests a great variety
of both cultivated and wild plants.

Figure 202, page 165, represents the Scurfy Bark-louse,
Chionaspis furfurus (Chi-o-nas'pis fur'fur-us), a species very
widely distributed on apple, pear, and cherry ; Figure 212, the
Pine-leaf Scale, Chionaspis pinifolue (pin-i-fo'li-ae), which
occurs on various species of pine and spruce in all parts of
the United States where these trees grow; and Figure 213
represents the red scale of California, Aspidiotus aurantii
(As-pid-i-o'tus au*ran'ti-i), which is very destructive to
oranges and lemons.

Fig. 214 .—Nepa apiculata. See p. 131.

CHAPTER XV.

Order Neuroptera (Neu-rop'te-ra).

The Dobson , Aphis-lions, Ant-lions, and others .

The members of this order have four wings ; these are mem±
branous and furnished with numerous veins , and usually with
many cross veins. The head is not prolonged into a beak . The
mouth-parts are formed for biting . The metamorphosis is
complete .

The name of this order is from two Greek words : neuron , a
nerve ; and pteron , a wing. It refers to the numerous nerves,
or veins as they are more commonly called, with which the
wings are furnished.

When the name Neuroptera was first used it was applied
to a much larger group of insects than now, a group which
has since been divided into many orders. So that now,
while the name expresses a character which is true of the
order, it is also true of many others.*

The order Neuroptera as now restricted is represented in
the United States by seven families. These can be separated
by the following table : —

TABLE FOR DETERMINING THE FAMILIES OF NEUROPTERA.

A. Prothorax as long as or longer than the mesothorax and the
metathorax combined.

B. Fore legs greatly enlarged and fitted for grasping, p. 179.

MANTISPIDiE.

* The Neuroptera of the older Entomologists included the following
orders : Thysanura, Ephemerida, Odonata, Plecoptera, Isoptera, Corroden-
tia, Mallophaga, Neuroptera, Mecoptera, and Trichoptera.

175

1 76 THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

BB. Fore legs not enlarged, and not fitted for grasping, p. 178.

Raphidiidje.

AA. Prothorax not as long as the mesothorax and the metathorax
combined.

B. Hind wings broad at the base, and with that part nearest the
abdomen (the anal area) folded like a fan when not in use.

p. 176 . SialiDjE.

BB. Hind wings narrow at base, and not folded like a fan when
closed.

C. Wings with very few veins, and covered with whitish powder.
(As this family includes only very rare insects it is not dis¬
cussed in this book.) . CONIOPTERYGIDiB.

CC. Wings with numerous veins, and not covered with powder.

D. Antennae gradually enlarged towards the end, or filiform

with a terminal knob. p. 182 . Myrmeleonida£.

DD. Antennae without terminal enlargement.

E. Some of the transverse veins between the costa and sub¬
costa forked (in all common forms), wings brownish or

smoky, p. l8l... . HEMEROBIIDiE.

EE. Transverse veins between the costa and subcosta simple,
wings greenish, p. 180 . CHRYSOPiDiE.

Family Sialid^E (Si-al'i-dae).

The Dobson and others .

The members of this family differ greatly in size and ap¬
pearance ; but they agree in having the hind wings wide at
the base, and in having that part of these wings nearest the
abdomen (the anal area) more or less folded in plaits when
the wings are closed.

The species that is most likely to attract attention is the
Horned Corydalis, Corydalis cornuta (Co-ryd'a-lis cor-nu'ta).
This is a magnificent insect, which has a wing expanse of
from four to nearly five and a half inches. Figure 215
represents the male, which has remarkably long mandibles.
The female resembles the male, except that the mandibles
are comparatively short.

NEUROPTERA.

1 77

This species is common throughout the United States.
The larvas are called Dobsons by anglers and are used by
them for bait, especially for bass. Figure 216 represents a
full-grown Dobson, natural size. These larvae live under
stones in the beds of streams. They are most abundant where
the water flows swiftest. They are carnivorous, feeding
upon the nymphs of Stone-flies, May-flies, and other insects.

Fig. 215. — Corydalis cornuta. Fig. 21 6,—Corydalis cornuta , larva.

When about two years and eleven months old, the larva leaves
the water, and makes a cell under a stone or some other
object on or near the bank of the stream. This occurs dur¬
ing the early part of the summer ; here the larva changes to
a pupa. In about a month after the larva leaves the water
the adult insect appears. The eggs are then soon laid;

13

178

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

these are attached to stones or other objects overhanging
the water. They are laid in blotch-like masses, which are
chalky-white in color, and measure from half an inch to nearly
an inch in diameter. A single mass contains from two thou¬
sand to three thousand eggs. When the larvae hatch they
at once find their way into the water, where they remain
until full grown.

There are other common species of the family which
closely resemble Corydalis but are smaller, the larger ones
measuring less than two and a half inches in length, and
having a wing expanse of not more than four inches. These
insects also differ from Corydalis in having three ocelli and
in lacking the sharp tooth-like angles on the sides of the back
part of the head. See Figure 215 of the adult Corydalis .
These species belong to the genus Chauliodes (Chau-li'o-des).

Chauliodes pecticornis (pec-ti-cor'nis) is a common species
with grayish wings and feather-like antennae. Chauliodes
serricornis (ser-ri-cor'nis) is also common ; this is a brownish-
black species with the wings spotted with white, and with
serrate antennae.

Family RAPHIDIIDiE (Raph-i-di'i-dae.)

The Raphidians (Ra-phid' i-ans).

The members of this family are found in this country
only in the far West. They are strange-appearing insects,
the prothorax being greatly elongated, like the neck of a
camel (Fig. 217). The female bears a long,
slender, sickle-shaped ovipositor at the end
the abdomen. The fore legs resemble
female. the other pairs of legs, and are borne at the

hinder end of the prothorax.

The larvae are found under bark and are carnivorous.
We have found them common under the loose bark of the
Eucalyptus. They also occur in orchards, and doubtless do
good by destroying the larvae and pupae of the Codlin-moth.

NEUROPTERA.

1 79

Living specimens of these insects have been sent to Aus¬
tralia by our government in the hope of introducing the
species there, and thus doing something towards repaying
the debt that we owe that country for the Australian Lady-
bug, which has rendered us great service in the destruction
of the Cottony-cushion Scale in California.

The family is represented by two genera, Raphidia (Ra-
phid'i-a) and Inocellia (In-o-cel'li-a). In the former there
are three simple eyes on the top of the head between the
compound eyes ; in the latter these ocelli are wanting.

Family MANTISPID.E (Man-tis'pi-dae).-
The Mantis-like Nearoptera.

The members of this family are even stranger in appear,
ance than the Raphidians. Here, as in that family, the
prothorax is greatly elongated ; but the members of this
family can be easily recognized by their remarkable fore
legs, which are greatly enlarged and resemble those of the
Praying Mantes in form (Fig.

218). These legs are fitted for
seizing prey; and, in order
that they may reach farther
forward, they are joined to
the front end of the long pro¬
thorax. In the adult state
these insects are predaceous;
while the larvse, SO fai as is pxp# 2i8. — Mantispa . In the specimen
known, are parasitic in tile somewhat in order to show the form
egg-sacs of spiders. of the parts'

Five species of the family are known from the United
States ; four of these belong to the genus Mantispa (Man-
tis'pa) and one to Symphasis (Sym'pha-sis).

i8o

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Family CHRYSOPID^E (Chry-sop'i-dae).

The Lace-winged- flies or Aphis-lions .

If one will search the foliage of herbs, shrubs, or trees,
there may be found, running rapidly around on the leaves,
sturdy, spindle-formed, little insects that have great sickle¬
shaped jaws (Fig. 219). These larvae are always hungry,
and will kill and eat any insects that they can overpower ;

Fig. 219.— Eggs, larva, cocoon, and adult of Chrysopa .

but as they are especially destructive to plant-lice, they are
called Aphis-lions.

When an Aphis-lion is full grown it rolls itself up into a
tiny ball and weaves around itself a glistening, white
cocoon, which looks like a large seed-pearl. It may be
supposed that while the Aphis-lion is secluded in this pearly
cell it repents its greedy, murderous ways, and changes in
spirit ; at least the body changes greatly, for, after a time, a
circular lid is made in the cocoon, and out of this emerges
a beautiful, dainty creature, with delicate-veined, green
wings, a pale green body, slender, brown antennae, and
a pair of large eyes that shine like melted gold. It is

NEUROPTERA.

l8l

sometimes called Golden-eyes, and sometimes, a Lace-winged-
fly, from its appearance. The Lace-wing is a prudent
mother ; she knows that if she lays her eggs together on a
leaf the first Aphis-lion that hatches will eat for his first
meal all his unhatched brothers and sisters. She guards
against this fratricide by laying each egg on the top of a
stiff stalk of hard silk about half an inch high. Groups of
these eggs are very pretty, looking like a tiny forest of
white stems bearing on their summits round glistening fruit.
When the first of the brood hatches, he scrambles down as
best he can from his egg perch to the surface of the leaf,
and runs off, quite unconscious that the rest of his family
are reposing in peace high above his head.

The mouth-parts of these larvae are very unusual in
form. The mandibles are very long ; on the lower side of
each of them there is a furrow the entire length ; into this
furrow the long and slender maxilla fits. In this waj' the
mandible and the maxilla of each side form a tube, through
which the blood of the prey of the insect can be drawn.
This explains why an Aphis-lion holds its prey on the tips
of its long jaws, at arm’s length, as it were, while sucking
its blood.

Nearly all of the members of this family belong to the
genus Chrysopa (Chry-so'pa).

Family HEMEROBIID^E (Hem-e-ro-bi'i-dae).

The H enter obians (Hem-e-ro' bi-ans).

The common members of this family are rather dark-
colored insects, with the wings mottled with dark browr. or
smoky specks, and with some of the veins between the cojta
and subcosta forked.

The most conspicuous member of the family is Polys -
tcechotes punctatus (Pol-ys-toech'o-tes punc-ta'tus), which is
represented natural size by Figure 220. The larva is
unknown.

182

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The larger number of the species of this family belong
to the genus Hemerobius (Hem-e-ro'bi-us). These are small¬
ish insects, the largest of which
expands hardly an inch. They
occur in forests, and especially
on cone - bearing trees. The

Fig. 220. Polystcechotes /unctatus. bear a strong resem.

blance to the Aphis-lions, and like them feed upon Aphids
and other small insects. After sucking the blood from their
victims, they make cloaks for themselves of the empty skins.

Family MYRMELEONlDiE (Myr-me-le-on'i-dae).

The Ant-lions and others .

The Ant-lions, Myrmeleon (Myr-me'le-on). — In sandy
places beneath overhanging cliffs, beneath buildings, and
along sandy banks where the sun shines warmest, there may
be found, in all parts of our land, little, funnel-shaped pits
one or two inches across (Fig. 221). The sides are smooth
and as steep as the sand
will lie ; and at the bottom
may be seen two small
curved objects. All is still
and motionless until some
ant, hurrying along with
mind intent upon business,
carelessly runs over the edge of one of these pitfalls. Then
the ant commences to slide down, while some force below
throws out the sand from under its struggling feet, until it
slides into the bottom, where literally jaws of death are
awaiting it. For the curved objects are a pair of jaws,
attached to a strong head, and closely connected with a
greedy stomach. If we dig out the owner of the jaws we
find it a spry, humpbacked creature, which moves backward
more easily than forward. It is worth while to collect some

Fig. 221. — Pitfall of an Ant-lion.

NF.UROPTERA.

183

of these larvae, and place them in a basin of sand, and
watch them build their pits. They do this by using the head
for a shovel. Sometimes when an ant seems likely to escape,
the Ant-lion will throw up a torrent of sand so that it will
descend on the victim, knocking it back into the pit.

When ready to change to a pupa the Ant-lion makes for
itself a little, round cocoon of sand fastened together and lined
with silk. The adult Ant-lion is a graceful insect with long,
narrow, delicate wings, and a slender body (Fig. 222).

Fig. 222. — Larva, cocoon with pupa-skin projecting, and adult of an Ant-lion.

Certain members of this family differ from the ant-lions
in having long, filiform antennas, which are suddenly en¬
larged at the end. These belong to the genus Ascalaphus
(As-eal'a-phus).

6- A

CHAPTER XVI.

Order Mecoptera (Me-cop'te-ra).

The Scorpion- flies and others .

The members of this order have four wings ; these are
membranous , and furnished with numerous veins . The head
is prolonged into a beak , at the end of which biting mouth
parts are situated . The metamorphosis is complete .

This is a small order composed of very remarkable in¬
sects. Ihe most striking character common to all is the
shape of the head, which is prolonged into a beak (Fig. 223).

The name Mecoptera is from two Greek words ;
mecos, length ; and pteron , a wing. This order
includes only a single family, the Panorpidce .

Family PANORPID/E (Pa-nor'pi-das).

The Scorpion-flies and others.

We have found representatives of this family
quite abundant on rank herbage growing on
Fig. 223 -Head t^ie banks of a shaded stream ; we have also
*nol)a}°lPa' found them in damp woods where there was a
luxuriant undergrowth of herbaceous plants.
These insects take flight readily when disturbed ; they are car¬
nivorous both in the adult and in the larval state. The larvae
larvae so far as known are remarkable on account of their
great resemblance to caterpillars. Not only is the form of
the body like that of a caterpillar, but the abdomen is fur¬
nished with fleshy pro-legs. There are, however, eight pairs
of these ; while caterpillars, as a rule, have only five.

184

MECOPTERA.

I85

The most common members of this family are the
Scorpion-flies, Panorpa (Pa-nor'pa). These are called Scor¬
pion-flies on account of the peculiar form of the caudal part
of the abdomen of the male (Fig 223). This at first sight
suggests the corresponding part of a scorpion ;
but in reality the two are very different. The
last segment, instead of ending in a sting like
that of a scorpion, is greatly enlarged and bears
a pair of clasping organs. The wings are nar¬
row but are well developed, being longer than
the body. In our more common species they are Fig 224. __/>*.
yellowish, spotted with brownish black (Fig. 224). norPa* adult-

Very closely allied to the Scorpion-flies are the insects of
the genus Bittacus (Bit'ta-cus). These insects have long
narrow wings, long legs, and a slender abdomen. They re¬
semble crane-flies very closely when on the wing. In this
genus the caudal appendages of the male are not enlarged as
in Panorpa .

The species of the genus Borens (Bo're-us) are remarka¬
ble for occurring on snow, in the winter, in our Northern
States.

1

CHAPTER XVII.

Order Trichoptera (Tri-chop'te-ra).

The Caddice-flies or Caddice-worms.

The members of this order have four wings ; these are
membranous , furnished with numerous longitudinal veins but
with only few cross veins , and are more or less densely clothed
with hairs . The mouth-parts are rudimentary . The meta¬
morphosis is complete .

The Caddice-flies are moth-like insects which are com¬
mon in the vicinity of streams, ponds, and lakes; and they
are also frequently attracted to lights at night.

The body-wall of these insects is soft, being membran¬
ous or at the most parchment-like, and is thickly clothed
with hairs. There are usually four ample wings. These
are membranous ; but the fore pair are more leathery than
the hind pair. When not in use they are folded against
the sides of the abdomen, in an almost vertical position,
and give the insect a narrow and elongated appearance
(Fig. 225). The wings are more or less densely clothed

with hairs ; and in some cases the
hairs are scale-like in form. The hind
wings are usually broader than the
fore wings, and are often longitudi-
fig. 225.-Caddice-fly. nally folded in repose. All have nu¬
merous longitudinal veins, but the cross veins are few.

The name of the order is from two Greek words : thrix ,
a hair; and pteroji, a wing.

The order includes only a single family, the Pliryganeidce .

186

TRICHOPTERA.

IS 7

Family PHRYGANEIM: (Phryg-a-ne'i-das).

The Caddice-flies or Caddice-worms.

The young naturalist loves to lie face downward on the
bank of a brook, and, with shaded eyes, watch the busy life
that goes on there. Among the astonishing things he sees
are little bundles of sticks or masses of stones moving about
the bottom of a quiet pool as if they were alive ; and yet if
he takes them out they seem dead enough. But when
he pulls them apart he finds that each is a tube lined
with silk within which a whitish larva lives. This larva,
when it wishes to move, puts out the front part of its body,
so that it can creep with its legs over the bottom of the
stream, or climb up and down water-plants, dragging its
house along: after it. When molested it draws back into its
tube, and is safe. Larvae of this sort are called Caddice-
worms ; and the adult insects are known as Caddice-flies.

There are very many species of Caddice-worms ; and each
species makes a particular kind of tube. Some Caddice-
worms are carpenters, building their houses of straws or

sticks. These are usu¬
ally placed lengthwise
the body (Fig. 226);
but certain species that
Fig. 226. make their houses chief¬

ly of straws fasten the straws crosswise like the logs of a
log-house (Fig. 227). These log-house builders
often have the curious habit of decorating their
houses by fastening snail-shells to the outside.

And strangely enough they do not always take
empty shells for this purpose; we have found
shells containing living snails securely fastened Fig- 227-
to the outside of the house of a Caddice-worm. In this case
the snail was afforded comparatively rapid transportation
whether it desired it or not. Fortunately the species that

1 88

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

make this style of house live in still water, and may, there¬
fore, be easily kept alive in aquaria.

There are caddice-worm houses closely resembling in plan
those just described but differing in appearance, being made
of bits of moss. Sometimes the houses are built of leaves ;
these may be fastened so as to form a flat case ; or are ar¬
ranged in three planes, so as to form a tube, a cross-section
of which is a triangle.

Other Caddice-worms are masons, building their houses of
grains of sand or of small stones. Sometimes these houses
are tubes very regular in outline, being composed only of
grains of sand fastened together with silk; but certain spe¬
cies of Mason Caddice-worms fasten larger stones on each side
of this tube of sand (Fig. 228). Some of the species that

Fig. 228.

Fig. 229.

build tubes of sand make spiral houses which very closely
resemble in form snail-shells (Fig. 229).

Whether stones or wood are used to build these houses
the material is always fastened together by silk, which the
larvae spin from the mouth in the same manner as do cater-
pillars. In some species the case is
composed entirely of silk. Figure 230
represents the form of such a case, which

Fig. 230, . . - , .

is common in some of our lakes.

Among the simplest of the various forms of houses built
by Caddice-worms are those made by certain species that live
under stones in rapid streams. These consist merely of a
few pebbles fastened to the lower surface of a larger stone
by threads of silk. In the space between these pebbles the
worm more or less perfect tube of silk, within which

TR1CH OP TER A.

I89

it lives. Very little respect for the architectural skill of
these builders is commanded by their rude dwellings. But
if one 'ooks a little farther, something will be found that is
Sure to excite admiration. The dweller within this rude re¬
treat is a fisherman ; and stretched between two stones near
by can be seen his net. This is made of silk. It is usually
funnel-shaped, opening up-stream ; and in the centre of it
there is a portion composed of threads of silk extending in
two directions at right angles to each other, so as to form
meshes of surprising regularity. It is as if a spider had
stretched a small web in the water where the current is the
swiftest. These nets occur in rapids between stones, but in
many places they are to be found in greater numbers along
the brinks of falls. Here they are built upon the surface of
the rock, in the form of semi-elliptical cups, which are kept
distended by the current. Much of the coating of dirt with
which these rocks are clothed in summer is due to its being
caught in these nets. We have not yet observed the owners
of the nets taking their prey from them ; but we cannot
doubt that they are made to trap small insects or other ani¬
mals that are being carried down-stream ; for the larvae of
the sub-family to which these net-builders belong, the Hy-
dropsychincey are known to be carnivorous. It should be
noted here, however, that the greater number of Caddice-
worms are herbivorous.

When a Caddice-worm gets ready to change to a pupa it
retires into its house and builds a door to keep intruders
out ; but the door always has an opening to allow the water
to flow in so that the pupa can breathe. Sometimes a simple
grating of silk is made over the entrance.

On one occasion the writer had the good fortune to ob¬
serve a Caddice-fly leave the water and take its first flight.
The specimen was one of the net-building species, Hydrop¬
syche (Hy-drop-sy'che), which I was breeding in an aquarium
in my laboratory. It swam to the surface of the water
repeatedly, using its long middle legs. When swimming,

190 THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

these legs were extended at right angles to the body like a
pair of oars. The insect was unable to crawl up the vertical
side of the aquarium, and after clinging to it for a short time
it would lose its hold and sink back to the bottom. After
watching it for a time I lifted it from the water by means of
a stick. At this time its wings were in the form of pads,
which were but little, if any, longer than the wing-pads of
the pupa, as shown by the cast pupa-skin found floating on
the water. The instant the creature was free from the water
its wings expanded to their full size, and immediately it flew
away several feet. In my efforts to catch the insect I found
that it had perfect use of its wings, although they were so
recently expanded. The time required for the insect to
expands its wings and take its first flight was scarcely more
than one second ; it was certainly less than two. As these
insects normally emerge from rapidly-flowing streams which
dash over rocks, it is evident that if much time were required
for the wings to become fit for use, as is the case with most
other insects, the wave succeeding that which swept one from
the water would sweep it back again and destroy it.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Order LEPIDOPTERA (Lep-i-dop'te-ra).

The Moths or Millers , the Skippers, and the Butterflies.

The members of this order have four wings ; these are
membranous, and covered with overlapping scales. The mouth-
parts are formed for sucking. The metamorphosis is complete.

The name of this order is from two Greek words: lepis,
a scale ; and pteron, a wing. It refers to the fact that the
wings of these insects are covered with scales. Every lad
that lives in the country knows that the wings of moths and
butterflies are covered with dust, which comes off upon one’s
fingers when these insects are handled. This dust when
examined with a microscope is found to be composed of very
minute scales of regular form ; and when a wing is looked at
in the same way, the scales are seen arranged with more or
less regularity upon it. The body, the legs, and other
appendages are also covered with scales.

The scales of Lcpidoptera are modified hairs. That is,
they are hairs which, instead of growing long and slender as
hairs usually do, remain short, but grow very wide as com¬
pared with their length. Every gradation in form can be
found from the ordinary hair-like form, which occurs most
abundantly upon the body, to the short and broad scale,
which is best seen upon the wings.

There is a great difference among the insects of this order
regarding the regularity of the arrangement of the scales

191

l92 the study of insects.

upon the wings. With some of the lower moths the scales

are scattered irregularly over
the wings. But if the wing of
one of the higher butterflies be
examined with a microscope,
the scales will be found arranged
in regular, overlapping rows;
the arrangement being as reg¬
ular as that of the scales on a
fish or of the shingles on a roof
(Fig. 231). In the upper part
of the figure the membrane is
Fig. 231. Part of wingof butterfly, represented with the scales re-

greatly magnified. r

moved.

The use of the scales on the wings is to strengthen them.
We thus see that the wings of these insects are furnished
with much fewer cross veins than are the wings of similar
size in other orders. A secondary use of these scales is that
of ornamentation ; for the beautiful colors and markings of
these insects are due entirely to the scales, and are destroyed
when the scales are removed. Upon the body, legs, and

Fig. 232.— Maxillae of cotton-moth, and tip of same enlarged.

other appendages, the scales and hairs doubtless serve to
protect the insect, being a sort of armor.

The mouth-parts of moths and butterflies are especially
adapted for sucking nectar from flowers. If the head of a
butterfly be examined, there will be found a long sucking

LEPID OP TER A.

193

tube, which when not in use is coiled on the lower side of
the head between two forward-projecting appendages. This
long sucking tube is composed of the two maxillae, greatly
elongated, and fastened together side by side. In Figure 232
mere is represented a side view of the maxillae of a moth ;
and in Figure 233 a cross-section of these organs. Each

Fig. 233.— Cross-section of maxillae.

maxilla is furnished with a groove, and the two maxillae are
so fastened together that the two grooves form a tube through
which the liquid food is sucked. As a rule the maxillae of
insects of this order are merely fitted for extracting the
nectar from flowers, but sometimes the tips of the maxillae
are armed with spines, as shown in Figure 232. This enables
the insect to lacerate the tissue of ripe fruits and thus set
free the juice, which is then sucked up. Many moths do not
eat in the adult state; with these the maxillae are wanting.
The two forward-projecting organs between which the
maxillae are coiled when present are the labial palpi. In
some moths the maxillary palpi are also developed.

The larvae of Lepidoptera are known as caterpillars.
They vary greatly in form and appearance ; but are usually
cylindrical, and provided with from eight to sixteen legs, —
six thoracic legs, and from two to ten abdominal legs. The
thoracic legs, which are finally developed into the legs of the
adult, have a hard external skeleton ; and are jointed, taper¬
ing, and armed at the end with a little claw. The abdominal
legs, which are shed with the last larval skin, are thick.

14

194

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

fleshy, without joints, elastic or contractile, and are generally
surrounded at the extremity by numerous, minute hooks
(Fig. 234) ; they are termed pro-legs.

Most caterpillars, except the larvae of butterflies, spin
cocoons (Fig. 235). In some instances, as in case of the

Fig. 235.— Cocoon of a moth.

silkworms, a great amount of silk is used in the construction
of the cocoon; in others the cocoon is composed principally

LEPIDOPTERA . 195

of the hairs of the larva, which are fastened together with a
fine web of silk.

In the pupae of Lepidoptera the developing wings and
legs are folded upon the sides and breast ; the whole being
enclosed in a hard skin (Fig.

236).

The members of this order
as a rule feed upon plants, and
are not aquatic ; some, as the
Clothes-moth and the species
that destroy Scale-bugs, feed Fig- **-*»■» of a moth,

on animal matter, and a very few feed upon plants below
the surface of the water.

More than six thousand species of Lepidoptera are
known to occur in America, north of Mexico. These rep¬
resent more than sixty families.

In order to give a synopsis of the Lepidoptera it is
necessary to enter into rather difficult technical details.
Hence this is done in that portion of this chapter designed
for advanced students and printed in fine type. The prin¬
cipal divisions of the Lepidoptera that are appropriately
discussed here are three : the moths, the skippers, and the
butterflies : —

The Moths . — These are the insects commonly called
millers. Most of the species fly by night and are frequently
attracted to lights. When at rest the wings are either
wrapped around the body, or are spread horizontally, or are
folded roof-like on the abdomen ; they are not held in a
vertical position above the body. The antennae of moths
are of various forms ; they are usually thread-like or feather¬
like ; only in rare cases are they enlarged towards the tip.
The moths include all but the last six families of Lepidop¬
tera.

The Skippers . — The skippers are so called on account of
their peculiar mode of flight. ' They fly in the daytime and
dart suddenly from place to place. When at rest they

1 96

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

usually hold the wings erect in a vertical position like
butterflies; often the fore wings are thus held while the
hind wings are extended horizontally. The antennae are
thread-like, and enlarged towards the tip ; but in most cases
the extreme tip is pointed and recurvecl, forming a hook.
The abdomen is usually stout, resembling that of a moth
rather than that of a butterfly. This division includes two
families.

The Butterflies . — The butterflies fly by day ; and when
at rest they fold the wings together above the back in a
vertical position. The antennae are thread-like with a club
at the tip, which is never recurved so as to form a hook.
The abdomen is slender. This division includes the last
four families described in this chapter.

Classification of the Lepidoptera.

(For Advanced Students.)

The study of the classification of the Lepidoptera is beset by a
peculiar difficulty. As these insects are clothed with scales com¬
paratively little of their structure can be examined without injury to
the specimens studied. Fortunately, however, it has been found
that the various modifications of the framework of the wings afford
excellent clues to the relationships of the different groups; and these
modifications can be determined in most cases without serious injury
to the specimens. The structure of the antennae also can be easily
studied, and in many cases affords much help in determining the zoo¬
logical position of an insect.

The first step to be taken in the study of the classification of
these insects is to become thoroughly familiar with the nomenclature
of the wing veins ; this is given on pages 64 to 66. It is a good plan
to take several of the larger moths and butterflies and make draw¬
ings showing the courses of the veins of the wings in each, carefully
indicating the names or numbers of the veins on the drawings.
The making of such drawings will be of much use in fixing the ar¬
rangement of the veins in the student’s mind. It should be remem¬
bered that veins IV and VI are not developed in this order.

As the scales on the lower surface of the wings are more closely
applied to the wings than are those on the upper surface, the veins
can be best seen when the wings are examined from below. The

LEPIDOPTERA.

197

veins can be rendered more distinct for a few seconds by putting a
drop of chloroform on the part of the wing to be examined ; this can
be easily done by means of a camel’s-hair brush.

Sometimes it is necessary to remove the scales from a small part
of the wing in order to determine the nature of some characteristic;
this can be easily done with an artist’s sable brush. A very small
brush is best for this purpose; and care should be taken not to break
the wing.

The above methods are all that are needed in the majority of
cases where the mere determination of an insect is the object. But
when a very careful study of the venation of a wing is to be made,
it should be bleached and mounted on a card or on a glass slip in
order that it may be studied with a compound microscope. The fol¬
lowing is the method of bleaching wings: —

1. Remove the wings carefully so as not to break the frenulum if
there be one; it is well to remove the patagium first.

2. Dip the wings in alcohol in order to wet them.

3. Immerse them for an instant in hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid).
Use for this purpose dilute acid, one part acid to nine parts water.

4. Put them in Labaraque solution with the upper surface of the
wings down, and leave there till the color has been removed from the
scales. If a wing bleaches slowly, the process can be hastened by
dipping it in the dilute acid and returning it to the Labaraque
solution from time to time. This solution can be procured of most
druggists. It deteriorates if left exposed in strong sunlight. If it
cannot be obtained, use an aqueous solution of chloride of lime.

5. When a wing is bleached put it in alcohol and leave it there till
after it floats. This is to wash off the Labaraque solution. The
wing can then be mounted on a card. But it is better to mount it as
described below.

6. Transfer the wing to a clearing mixture, if it is to be mounted
in balsam, and leave it there five or ten minutes. This is to remove
any water there may be on it. A good clearing mixture can be made
by mixing two parts by weight of carbolic-acid crystals and three
parts of rectified oil of turpentine.

7. Put the wing on a glass slip with considerable clearing mixture
under it to avoid bubbles ; put Canada balsam on top, and cover with
thin glass. In the case of small wings, it is best to transfer them
from one solution to another, and to the glass slip by means of a
camel's-hair brush.

Wings bleached and mounted in this way make an important ad¬
dition to a collection. The slides should be carefully labelled ; and

198

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

the insect from which the wings were taken should be kept with the
slide. It is our practice to remove always the wings from the right
side, and then to mount the slide in the collection at the right of the
insect from which the wings were taken. Uniformity in this respect
adds greatly to the appearance of the collection.

ni* - The student should

study his larger speci-
mens first, leaving the
5 smaller ones till he has
acquired skill in this
work.

There are a few spe¬
cial terms used in de¬
scribing the wings of
the Lepidoptera which
should be learned: —
Frenulum. — In most
moths there is a strong
spine or a bunch of
bristles borne by the
hind wing at the hume¬
ral angle (Fig. 237, /);

Fig. 237-—' Wings of Thyridopteryx ephetneraformis. this is the frenulum.
Its use is to insure the acting together of the two wings of one
side. Except in the Microlepidoptera the frenulum of the male
consists of a single strong spine;
that of the female of two or
more bristles.*

Jugum . — In one suborder,
including only a few rare moths,
there exists, instead of a fren-
;ulum, a lobe borne near the
base of the inner margin of the
fore wing (Fig. 238, j) ; this
is the jugum. See sub-order
Jugatae.

Discal Cell. — Near the cen¬
tre of the basal part of the
wing there is a large cell lying

Vila VII,

Fig. 238.— Wings of Hcpialus gracilis.

between veins III and VII (Fig. 239, d.c.) ; this is the discal cell.
In the more generalized Lepidoptera this cell is divided into two
parts by the base of vein V (Fig. 239, hind wing) ; in such cases the

LEPIDOPTERA. 199

cell lying immediately behind vein III is cell III, and that lying
immediately behind vein V is cell V.

Accessory Cells. — In many genera the branches of vein III of the
fore wings anastomose
so as to form one or
more cells beyond the
apex of the discal cells
(Fig. 239, a.c.) ; these
are the accessory cells.

Discal Vein. — The
cross vein at the outer
end of the discal cell is
termed the discal vein
(Fig. 239, d.v.).

Patagia. — At the
base of each fore wing
there is a scale-like ap¬
pendage; these are the
patagia. The patagia
are borne by the protho¬
rax, and in many cases
are capable of consider¬
able movement.

In descriptions of
Lepidoptera reference is
often made to the palpi.

These form the double beak-like projection which extends forward
from the lower surface of the head. In most Lepidoptera only the
labial palpi are well developed ; but in some of the more generalized
forms the maxillary palpi are also present.

The presence or absence of ocelli
is a character which is sometimes of
considerable importance. These or¬
gans are situated, one on each side,
above the compound eye and near its
margin (Fig. 240). But it requires some
skill to find them when they are present,
on account of the long scales clothing the head.

The Phylogetiy of the Lepidoptera. — Since the general acceptance
of the theory of evolution — that is. the theory that the higher animals
and plants have been developed from lower ones — it has become evi¬
dent that the only sure basis for classification is a knowledge of the

Fig.

340. — Head of moth, showing
position of ocellus.

Fig. 239. — Wings of Notolophus leucostigma.

200

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

history of the various races of animals and plants, or phylogeny (phy^.
log'e-ny), as it is termed.

The scope of this book has not permitted an extended treatment
of this phase of the subject. There is space for only a few hints re¬
garding the phylogeny of the families of a single order; but these
hints will serve as an illustration of a method of study. The Lepi-
doptera is chosen for this purpose, as the method has been applied to
this order more fully than it has to others.

It is a well-known fact that every kind of animal and plant trans¬
mits a general likeness with individual differences to its offspring.

According to the Darwinian theory of natural selection these dif¬
ferences or variations may be of any kind and in any direction. And
as many more animals are born or plants germinated than can live to
reach maturity, owing to the tendency of each kind to increase in a
geometrical ratio, each individual is subjected to a severe struggle for
existence.

The result of this struggle is that any individual possessing a for¬
tunate variation — that is, one that enables it to get its living and
escape its dangers more easily than its fellows — will be more apt on
this account to reach maturity and propagate its kind than will less
fortunate individuals. Thus there is a thinning-out process which
tends to the production of more and more specialized forms of animals
and plants, i.e., forms adapted to the special conditions under which
they exist.

It should be remembered that the difficulties surrounding exist¬
ence may be met in different ways; and that thus there may have
descended from a common ancestor very different forms, each well
fitted to meet the struggle for existence. See Chapter I, pp. i and 2.

Just what changes have taken place in the structure of the mem¬
bers of any race is a difficult matter to determine, for, although many
fossils have been found, the record is still very incomplete. But for¬
tunately something can be learned regarding this by the study of
living animals. For not all members of the same family, or order, or
class are equally specialized. Some retain more nearly than others
the form of their remote ancestors ; and by the study of thes z. general¬
ized forms, as they are termed, we can gain some idea of the struc¬
ture of the animals of past ages, and of the ways in which existing
animals have been modified.

We will state very briefly some of the conclusions that we have
reached regarding the phylogeny of the families of the Lepidoptera.
These conclusions are based largely on a study of the wings. It is
hoped that other parts will be studied in the same way ere long.

LEPIDOPTERA.

201

In the flight of insects it is important that the two wings of each
side should act together, and we find that this is secured in most
orders by uniting them in some way. In the Lepidoptera two dis¬
tinct methods are employed ; in some it is done by means of a jugum,
in others by means of a frenulum or its substitute. As neither the
jugum nor the frenulum could be derived from the other, we infer
that the primitive Lepidoptera possessed neither of these organs, but
had wings that were quite distinct from each other. In the course of
time there was developed in some of the descendants of these primi¬
tive forms a jugum ; while in others there was developed a frenulum.
Of course in each case the development was a gradual one, extending
through many generations. Thus the frenulum at first was probably
merely a bunch of hairs like
those elsewhere on the wings;
but these became stiller and
stiffer in succeeding genera¬
tions.

The descendants of those
ancient Lepidoptera in which a
jugum was developed constitute
the suborder Jug at a ; while the
descendants of those in which
a frenulum was developed con¬
stitute the suborder Frenatce .

We know but little of the
Jugatae, as nearly all of them
have perished. There remain
only two small families, the
Hepialidae and the Microptery-
gidae. But these families are
very widely separated, and hence
it is safe to assume that they are
the remnants of what was in
past times a large fauna.

In the Frenatae, however,
there exist to-day many families,
each exhibiting its own methods of specialization.

In some of these families the frenulum has been preserved and
perfected to a greater or less extent. But in others a curious change
has taken place.

It is obvious that if the two wings of each side overlap to a great
extent, their acting together will be assured by this fact. And this is

202

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

what has taken place with the butterflies, the skippers, and certain
moths. With these insects the humeral angle of the hind wing has
been greatly enlarged, so that it projects far beneath the fore wing
(Fig. 241). When this has taken place there is no longer any need
of a frenulum, and consequently this organ is no longer preserved by
natural selection. We find, therefore, that several families of Lepi-
doptera that belong to the suborder Frenatse, being descendants of

VIII

Fig. 342. — Wings of Bombyx ntori.

ancient frenulum-bearing moths, no longer possess a frenulum.
These are classed in the following synopsis as the frenulum-losers.
It is a very interesting fact, and one that bears out the theory
just stated, that in the more generalized of the frenulum-losing
moths, as the Bombycidae, the frenulum has not yet entirely dis¬
appeared, but is preserved in a rudimentary state (Fig. 242). We
place the frenulum-losers last in a serial arrangement of the fami-

LEPIDOPTERA .

203

Ties of Lepidoptera, regarding them as those that depart most widely
from the primitive type.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a study of the relation to
each other of the fore and hind wings gives us important hints as to
the probable courses development has taken in the different families.
Equally suggestive hints may be derived from a study of the venation
of the wings.

By an extended study of fossil forms and the more generalized of
living forms, the details of which study cannot be given here,* it has
been determined that in the primitive Lepidoptera vein V of both
fore and hind wings was well developed, and extended from the base
of the wing out through the discal cell. We find that in certain
families of existing moths this vein is still preserved (see p. 221),
while in others it has been lost. Those families of the Frenatae in
which it is best and most uniformly preserved are grouped together
as the Generalised Frenatcs (see the following synopsis), while those
in which it is lost or nearly so are considered more specialized.

With the loss of the base of vein V there occurs a connection of
its branches with veins III and VII, so that in the more specialized
forms these branches of vein V appear to be branches of those veins
(Fig. 241). A study of the extent to which this change has gone
gives much aid in determining the zoological position of the different
genera and families. In certain families vein V3 tends to become
united to vein III ; in others it tends to become united to vein VII.
This too is an important character, of which use is made in the
following synopsis.

The number of anal veins is another character the study of which
throws much light on the relative position of the different forms. It
has been determined that the ancient Lepidoptera had at least three
anal veins in both fore and hind wings. This number has been pre¬
served in one or both pairs of wings of the more generalized of living
moths, but has been reduced to two or even to one in the more
specialized families.

Enough has been said, without going into further details here, to
show that the way to determine the relationships of organized beings
is to determine the primitive form of their organs and the changes
that have been brought about in these organs by the action of natural

* The data upon which these conclusions are based are given at greater
length in an essay, by the senior author, entitled Evolution and Taxonomy.
This essay forms a part of the Wilder Quarter-Century Book, published by
the Comstock Publishing Company, Ithaca, N. Y.

204

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

selection. The classification of animals and plants should not be
merely the assorting of them into convenient pigeon-holes, but
a serious study of their blood-relationships.

The following synopsis will serve to show what we believe to be
the relations of the principal divisions of the order. Following this
synopsis there is a table for use in classifying specimens.

SYNOPSIS OF THE LEPIDOPTERA.

{See page 207 for a table for determining specimens .)

A. The Jugate Lepidoptera. — Moths in which the two wings of
each side are united by a jugum (Fig. 238,7), p. 214.

Suborder Jugate.

B. The Swifts or Macroj ugatce, p. 215 . Family Hepialid^e.

BB. The Little-wing Jugates or Microjug at a , p. 216.

Family Micropterygid/E.

AA. The Frenate Lepidoptera.— Moths, skippers, and butterflies
in which the two wings of each side are united by a frenulum (Fig.
23 7,/) or by its substitute, a large humeral angle of the hind wing

(Fig. 241), p. 201 . Suborder Frenate.

B. The Generalized Frenatae. — Moths that are supposed to
retain more nearly than any other Frenatae the form of the primi¬
tive Frenatae, those that were the first to appear on earth. In
these generalized moths the wings approach the typical form;
the base of vein V of one or both pairs of wings is preserved
throughout a considerable part at least of the discal cell ; and
the anal veins are well preserved, there being two or three in
the fore wing and three in the hind wing. The frenulum is
usually well preserved.

The Flannel-moths, p. 218 . Family Megalopygid^e.

The Bag-worm Moths, p. 219 . Family Psychid;e.

The Carpenter-moths, p. 221 . Family CossiDiE.

The Slug-caterpillar Moths, p. 223 . . . Family Eucleid^e.

The Smoky-moths, p. 226 . Family Pyromorphidje.

BB. The Specialized Frenatae. — Moths, skippers, and butter
flies that depart more widely than do the Generalized Frenatrc
from the primitive type of Lepidoptera, being more highly modi¬
fied for special conditions of existence. An indication of the
specialized condition of these insects is the modified form of the
wings. In nearly all the base of vein V has been lost and the
branches of this vein joined to veins III and VII.

LEPIDOPTERA .

205

C. The Microfrenaive. — Frenulum-bearing moths, which are
usually of small, often minute, size. The anal area of the hind
wings is not reduced, having usually three anal veins except in
certain minute forms where a broad fringe has been substituted
for the membrane of this area.

The Pyralids, p. 228 . Superfamily Pyralidina.

The Tortricids, p. 239 . Superfamily Tortricina.

The Tineids, p. 246 . Superfamily Tineina.

The Clear-winged Moths, p. 259 . Family Sesiid^e.

CC. The Specialized Macrofrenat^e.— Specialized Frenatae
which are usually of medium or large size. This division
includes certain moths and all skippers and butterflies. In
these insects the anal area of the hind wing is reduced, con¬
taining only one or two anal veins.

D. The Fren uium -conscrvers. — Specialized ' Macrofrenatae in
which the two wings of each side are united by a frenulum.
This group includes only moths.

E. Moths that appear to have a three-branched cubitus, only
vein Va being closely connected with vein VII. Vein V9
either retains its primitive position midway between veins
III and VII or arises from the discal vein nearer to vein
III than to vein VII.*

The Dioptids, p. 262 . Family DiOPTiDiE.

The Prominents, p. 263 . Family Notodontidze.

The Measuring-worm Moths, p. 270.

Superfamily Geometrina.
EE. Moths that appear to have a four-branched cubitus, the
base of vein V2 of one or both pairs of wings being more
closely connected with vein VII than with vein III.

F. Moths in which the humeral angle of the hind wings
is greatly extended, but which as a rule possess the
frenulum in one sex at least.

The Auzatids, p. 288 . Family AuzatiDjE.

The Hook tip Moths, p. 289 . Family DrepanidjE.

FF. Moths in which the humeral angle of the hind wings
is not greatly extended.

G. The Noetui ds and their Allies. — Moths in which some
of the branches of vein III of the fore wings coalesce

* In many Hawk-moths vein V3 nearly or quite retains its primitive
position ; but when it has moved from this position, it is nearer to vein VII
than to vein III. This family is placed, therefore, in the next division (EE)
of this synopsis.

230

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

beyond the discal cell, and which do not have what
appears to be a cross vein between veins II and III of
the hind wings.

The Cymatophorids, p. 291. Family Cymatophorid;e.

The Owlet-moths, p. 293 . Family NoCTUlDiE.

The Tussock-moths, p. 308.. . .Family LymantriidjE.
The Wood-nymph Moths, p. 3 13. Family Agaristid;e.

The Pcricopids, p. 316 . Family Pericopid^e.

The Tiger-moths, p. 317 . Family Arctiid/E.

The Footman-moths, p. 324 . Family LithosiidjE.

The Zygaenids, p.* 326 . Family ZyG/ENIDJE.

GG. The Window-winged Moths. — Moths in which vein
III of the fore wings is five-branched and in which all of
these branches arise from the discal cell (Fig. 404), p.

328.- . Family Thyridid^e.

GGG. The Hawk-moths. — Moths in which there appears
to be a cross vein between veins II and III of the hind
wings (Fig. 407), p. 330 . Family Sphingidje.

DD. The Frenulum-losers. —Specialized Macrofrenatae, in which
the frenulum has been supplanted by a greatly extended
humeral area of the hind wings. In some of the more gen¬
eralized forms a rudimentary frenulum persists (Bombycidse
and Lacosomidas). This division includes three groups of
families: the Frenulum-losing Moths, the Skippers, and the
Butterflies. The grouping together of the families included
in this division is merely provisional, as it is probable that
the loss of the frenulum has arisen independently in several
of them.

E. The Frenulum-losing Moths. — In these moths the antennae
are usually pectinate; they are never enlarged into a club
at the tip.

F. Moths with cubitus of the fore wings apparently three-
branched.

G. Moths in which veins Ills and III« coalesce to a great
extent. The Saturnians. p. 339.

Superfamily Saturniina.
GG. Moths in which veins Ills and 1 1 14 do not coalesce
beyond the discal cell. p. 357.. Family LACOSOMiDiE
FF. Moths in which cubitus of the fore wings is apparently

four-branched, p. 359 . Family Lasiocampidas.

SE. The Skippers. — These are day-flying Lepidoptera which
resemble butterflies in usually holding their wings erect

LEPIDOPTERA .

207

when at rest, but are distinguished by the peculiar venation
of the fore wings, vein III being five-branched, and all the
branches arising from the discal cell. The antennae are
enlarged into a club towards the tip. p. 364.

Superfamily Hesperiina.

EEE. The Butterflies. — Day-flying Lepidoptera that hold
their wings erect when at rest, that have clubbed antennae,
and that differ from the Skippers in the venation of the
fore wings, some of the branches of vein III coalescing

beyond the discal cell . Superfamily Papilionina.

F. Butterflies in which vein VII is apparently four-
branched. The Swallow-tail Butterflies, p. 375.

Family Papilionid^e.
FF. Butterflies in which vein VII is apparently three-
branched.

G. Butterflies exhibiting no tendency to abortion of the
fore legs.

The Pierids. p. 381 . Family Pierid^e.

GG. Butterflies exhibiting a marked tendency to abor¬
tion of the fore legs.

The Gossamer-winged Butterflies, p. 388.

Family LYCiENlD^E.
The Brush-footed Butterflies, p. 395.

Family Nymphalid^e.

TABLE FOR DETERMINING THE PRINCIPAL GROUPS OF

LEPIDOPTERA.

A. Wingless or with rudimentary wings. This division includes only
females. All males of Lepidoptera are winged.

B. The larval case-bearers; the adult female remaining within the

case to lay her eggs. p. 219 . Psychid^e.

BB. The larvae not case-bearers; the wingless adult not in a case.

C. The adult remaining upon her cocoon to lay her eggs; the
body of the adult clothed with fine hairs, p. 308.

Lymantriidje.

CC. The adult active, laying her eggs remote from her cocoon;
the body of the adult clothed with flattened scales, p. 270.

Geometrina.

AA. Winged, fore and hind wings similar in form and venation, the
radius of the hind wings being, like that of the fore wings, five-
branched. (Fig. 238.) (Suborder Jugatce.) [See also AAA.]

208

THE STUDY OF IHSECTS .

B. Moths of medium or large size. p. 215 . Hepialidas.

BB. Minute moths, resembling Tineids in appearance, p. 214.

MlCROPTERYGIDiE.

AAA. Winged, fore and hind wings differing in form and venation;
the radius of the hind wings being simple, although frequently
apparently two- or three-branched ; this is due to the union of one
or two branches of media with it (Figs. 241, 242). (Suborder
Frenatcs .)

B. Antennae of various forms, but never thread-like with a knob at
the extremity* (moths in part).

C. The fringe on the inner angle of the hind wings as long as, or
longer than, the width of the wing; the hind wings often

lanceolate, but never fissured, p. 246 . Tineina.

CC. The fringe on the hind wings shorter ; the hind wings not
lanceolate.

D. Wings fissured.

E. Each wing divided into six lobes, p. 238. ..Orneodida:.
EE. Wings never more than four-lobed ; usually the fore
wings are bilobed and the hind wings trilobed. p. 237.

Pterophoridac.

DD. Wings not fissured.

E. Fore wings very narrow, the width at the middle less
than one fourth the length of the wing; a considerable part
of the hind wings, and in many cases of the fore wings also,

free from scales, p.259 . SESHDiE.

EE. Wings scaled throughout, or if clear with the fore wings
triangular in outline.

F. Hind wings with three anal veins. Care must be taken
not to mistake a mere fold in the wing for a vein. When
there is no thickening of the membrane of the wing along
a fold it is not counted as a vein.

G. Subcosta and radius of the hind wings grown together
for a greater or less distance between the ape:: of the
discal cell and the apex of the wing, or in some caccs
separate but very closely parallel, p. 228..Pyralidina.
GG. Subcosta and radius of the hind wings widely sep¬
arate beyond the apex of the discal cell.

* In some moths the antenna; are enlarged towards the tip, forming a
more or less distinct club ; but this club is quite different in shape from the
knob at the extremity of the antennae in the skippers and the butterflies. In
the moths with club-like antennae the ocelli are usually present, and the hind
wings bear a frenulum.

LEPIDOPTERA .

209

H. Microlepidoptera ; />., moths that are in most cases
of small or minute size ; with those included here
the palpi are well developed, often prominent — when
the palpi are not prominent the antennae are at least
as long as the front wings ; the fringe on the anal
angle of the hind wings is considerably longer than
elsewhere.

I. The second anal vein of the hind wings forked

towards the base. p. 239 . Tortricina.

II. The second anal vein of the kind wings not

forked towards the base. p. 246 . Tineina.

HH. Macrolepidoptera ; /.<?., moths usually of medium
or large size. With those included here the palpi
are small, rarely projecting beyond the head ; the
antennae are of moderate length ; and the fringe on
the anal angle of the hind wing is not Longer than
elsewhere, or but slightly so.

I. Subcosta and radius of hind wings grown together
to near the end of the discal cell. (Fig. 267.)

J. Small black moths, with thinly scaled wings.

p. 226 . PVROMORPHIDiE.

JJ, Moths of medium size, and densely clothed *
with long woolly hairs, which are light colored
or brown, p. 218 . Megalopygidas.

II. Subcosta and radius of hind wings distinct or
grown together for only a short distance.

J. Anal veins of the fore wings anastomosing so
as to appear as a branched vein (Fig. 253).

p. 219 . PSYCHIDJE.

JJ. Anal veins of fore wings not forked outwardly.

K. Vein V2 of the fore wings arising from the
discal cell nearly midway between veins Vi
and V3.

L. Vein V3 of both fore and hind wings
coalescing with vein VII» for a considerable
distance beyond the end of the discal cell

(Fig. 309). p. 262 . . Dioptidas.

LL. Veins V3 and VIIj not coalescing beyond
the end of the discal cell.

M. Veins Ills and Ills coalesced at base,
but separate from veins III4 and Ills.

aio

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

which also coalesce (Fig. 438). p. 357.

LaCOSOMIDvE.

MM. Veins Ilia, Ills, III«, and III6 united
at base (Fig. 419). p. 340. . Bombycide.
KK. Vein Va of the fore wings emerging from
the discal cell nearer to cubitus than to radius,
causing cubitus to appear four-branched.

L. Fore wings with an accessory cell (Fig. 255);
veins Ilia and Ilia coalesced at base, also
veins III4 and Ilia; the accessory cell is
formed by the anastomosing of veins III*

and III4 + B. p. 221 . Cosside.

LL. Fore wings without an accessory cell;
veins 1 1 13 and III4 coalescing to a greater
extent than any other branches of radius

(Fig. 26 1;. p. 223 . . Eucleide.

FF. Hind wings with less than three anal veins.

G. Fore wings with two distinct anal veins or with the
anal veins partially grown together in such a way as
to appear as a single branched vein.

H. Anal veins of fore wings partially grown together
so as to appear as a branched vein (Fig. 253). p. 219

Psychide.

HH. Fore wings with two distinct anal veins, p. 226.

PYROMORPHIDE.

GG. Fore wings with a single fully preserved anal vein.
This is the second anal vein (vein IX) ; the first anal
vein (vein VIII) is absent or represented merely by a
fold; and the third anal vein (vein XI) is short, not
reaching to the margin of the wing, or is wanting;
usually when the third anal vein is present it is joined
to the second anal vein, so that thb latter appears to
be forked towards the base.

H. Frenulum present. In most cases the humeral
angle of the hind wings is not largely expanded.

I. The five branches of radius and the three branches
of media of the fore wings present, and each one
arising from the discal cell (Fig. 404). Small
moths (the largest expanding only three fourths
inch) resembling Hawk-moths in form, and with
translucent spots on their wings, p. 328.

THYR1DIDE.

LEPIDOPTERA.

21 1

II. Some of the branches of radius or of media
either wanting or grown together beyond the
discal cell.

J. Hind wings with subcosta and radius appar¬
ently distinct but connected by a strong oblique
cross vein (Fig. 407). Moths of medium or
large size, with spindle-shaped bodies, narrow,
strong wings, and usually with the antennae
prismatic in form, and more or less thickened
in the middle or towards the tip, which is fre¬
quently recurved in the form of a hook (Hawk-

moths). p.329 . SPHINGIDiE.

JJ. Subcosta and radius of hind wings either dis¬
tinct or grown together; but not appearing to
be connected by a strong, oblique cross vein.

K. Vein Va of the fore wings not more c^sely
joined to cubitus than to radius, cubitus being
apparently three-branched.

L. The basal part of the subcosta of the hind
wings extending from the base towards the
apex of the wing in a regular curve. Moths
resembling Noctuids in form ; i.e with a
large abdomen and with rather narrow,
strong, and coarsely-scaled fore wings.

M. Vein Va of the hind wings arising much
nearer to cubitus than to radius; vein Vi
of the hind wings joined to radius at a
considerable distance before the apex of
the discal cell (Fig. 349). p. 291.

CymatophoridjE.
MM. Vein Va of the hind wings either
wanting or present, but when present
• arising either midway between radius

and cubitus, or nearer to radius than to
cubitus; vein Vi of the hind wings joined
to radius at or beyond the apex of the
discal cell (Fig 31 1). p. 263.

NOTODONTIDiE.
LL. The basal part of the subcosta of the
hind wings joined to radius for a consider¬
able distance and then making a prominent
bend towards the costal margin, as in Ctcin-

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

nus (Fig. 438). Veins Ills and III« o! the
fore wings separate from each other, p. 357.

[See also LLL.] . LaC0S0MID;E.

LLL. The basal part of the subcosta of the
hind wings making a prominent bend into
the humeral angle of the wing (Fig. 327);
veins Ills and III4 coalesced to near the
apex of the wing. In most cases, moths
with a slender abdomen, and with rather
broad, delicate wings, which are finely
scaled, p. 270 . GEOMETRINA.

KK. Vein Va of the fore wings more closely
joined to cubitus than to radius ; cubitus be¬
ing in most cases apparently four-branched.

L. Small moths with the apex of the fore
wings sickle-shaped, p. 289. .Drepanidje.
LL. Apex of the fore wings not sickle-shaped.

M. Small moths with snow-white wings, in
which the subcosta of the hind wings ex¬
tends distinct from radius to a point be¬
yond the discal cell where the two are
united for a greater or less distance (Fig.

344). p. 288 . Auzatidje.

MM. The subcosta of the hind wings ex¬
tending distinct from the radius, or the
two joined for a very short distance, near
the base of the wing. [See also MMM.J

N. Chiefly day-flying moths that are
either black with large, white or yellow,
rounded patches upon the wings, or
have the front wings white, margined
with brown, and the hind wings pale
yellow.

O. Cubitus of hind wings apparently
four-branched (Fig. 384). p. 316.

Pericopidje.
OO. Cubitus of hind wings apparently
three-branched (Fig. 379). p. 313.

Agaristim:.

NN. Not such moths as are described
under N.

O. Antennae pectinate.

LEPIDOPTERA .

213

P. Ocelli absent, p. 308.

LyMANTRIIDjE.

PP. Ocelli present, p. 293 NoctuiDjE.
OO. Antennae simple, p. 293. NoctuiDjE.

MMM. The subcosta of the hind wings
united with the radius for a considerable
distance (/.*., for one fifth or more of the
length of the discal cell).

N. The subcosta and radius of the hind
wings united for a considerable distance,
but usually separating before the apex
of the discal cell.

O. Ocelli present, p. 317 . .. ARCTHDiE.
OO. Ocelli absent, p. 324..L1THOSIID/E.
NN. The subcosta and radius of the hind
wings united into a single vein (Fig.
399), or at most with their tips separate
near the apex of the wing. With all
the moths included under this head
and under the preceding N, vein Vi
of the hind wings is present and is
joined to radius at or near the apex of
the discal cell ; care should be taken
not to mistake this vein Vi for radius,
p. 326 . ZYG/ENIDjE.

HH. Frenulum absent; the humeral angle of the hind
wings largely expanded and serving as a substitute
for a frenulum.

I. Cubitus of both wings apparently four-branched,
due to the fact that both the second and third
branches of media (V3 and V3) are joined to it.

J. Small moths, with slender bodies, and with the
apex of the fore wings sickle-shaped ; humeral

veins absent, p. 289 . Drepanid.e.

JJ. Moths of various sizes, but with robust bodies,
and with the apex of the fore wings not sickle¬
shaped ;* hind wings with humeral veins, p.
359 . Lasiocampid^e.

II. Cubitus of both fore and hind wings apparently
three-branched, due to the fact that only the third
branch of media (V3) is more closely joined to it
than to radius. (The moths included in this

214

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

section of this table are robust, with strong wings,
and are of medium or large size. In some of the
Geometrina (p. 270), which also have a three-
branched cubitus, the frenulum is inconspicuous
or even in rare cases (. Dyspteris ) wanting; these
moths can be distinguished from those included
here by their smaller size, more slender body, and
weaker wings), p. 339 . Saturniina.

BB. Antennae thread-like with a knob at the extremity.

C. With the radius of the fore wings five-branched, and with all
of the branches arising from the discal cell (Fig. 445) ; club of
antenna; usually terminated by a recurved hook. The Skip¬
pers, p.364 . Hesperiina.

CC. With some of the branches of the radius of the fore wings
coalesced beyond the apex of the discal cell (Fig. 455) ; club of
antennae not terminated by a recurved hook. The Butterflies .

p. 373 . Papilionina.

Suborder JUGAT^E (Ju-ga'tas).

The Jugate (Ju'gate) Lepidoptera.

The American representatives of this suborder are rare
moths, which the student beginning the study of insects is
not likely to meet. They can be easily recognized by the
peculiar structure of the hind wings, which resemble the

fore wings in form and in
venation (Fig. 238). In all
other Lepidoptera, the two
pairs of wings differ in
form, and the hind wings
are furnished with fewer
veins than are the fore
wings.

The most important
characteristic of the sub¬
order, and the one to which
its name refers, is the way
in which the two wings of each side are fastened together.
There projects backward from the inner margin of the fore

Fig. *43. — Wings of lief talus gracilis.

LEPIDOPTERA.

215

wing near its base a small lobe (Fig. 243, j), which extends
under the costal margin of the hind wing; while the greater
part of the inner margin of the fore wing overlaps the hind
wing. This arrangement assures the acting together of the
two wings.

This projecting lobe is named the jugum or yoke ; and the
moths possessing this organ are termed the Jugatae or the
Jugate Lepidoptera.

This suborder includes only two families; one represented
by minute moths, the other by moths of medium or large
size.

Family Hepialid^e (He-pi-al'i-dae).

The Swifts .

The members of this family are of medium or large size.
Figure 244 represents one of the larger species. Our best

Fig. 244. — Hepialus argenteomaculatus .

known forms are brown or ashy gray in color, with the wings
marked with silvery white spots.

It is said that these moths fly near the earth, and only in
the evening after sunset, hiding under some low plant, or
clinging to the stalk of an herb during the day. Some of
them fly with extreme rapidity, with an irregular mazy flight,
and have, therefore, been named Swifts by collectors. They
are attracted to lights. Figure 238 represents the venation
of the wings of Hepialus (He-pi'a-lus).

216

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The larvae are nearly naked, and grub-like in appearance,
although furnished with sixteen legs. They feed upon
wood, and are found at the roots or within the stems of plants.
They transform either in their burrows, or, in the case of
those that feed outside of roots, within loose cocoons. The
pupae have transverse rows of teeth on the abdominal seg¬
ments ; these aid them in emerging from their burrows.
The best known American species bores in the stems of the
speckled or hoary alder (A Inns incana ).

Family MICROPTERYGID.E (Mi-crop-te-ryg'i-dae).

The Little-zvinged Jugates (Ju' gates).

These are very minute moths, which resemble Tineids in
size and appearance. The largest species known to the
writer expands but little more than half an inch. Figure 245
represents the venation of the wings. Only a single genus.

Microptcryx (Mi-crop'te-ryx), occurs in this country. The
larvae are leaf-miners.

Suborder Frenatve (Fre-na'te).

The Frenate (Fre'nate) Lepidoptera.

To the Frenatae belong nearly all of our moths, and all
skippers and butterflies. With most moths of this suborder

LEPJDOPTERA .

217

tnere exists near the base of the costal margin of the hind
wings a strong bristle or bunch of bristles named the frenu¬
lum , or little bridle (Fig. 237,/). As the frenulum projects
forward under the fore wing it tends to depress the hind
wing when the fore wing is depressed, thus insuring the act-
ing together of the two pairs of wings. Usually the frenulum
consists of two or more bristles in females and of a single
stronger bristle in males. The difference is due to the fact
that in males the bunch of bristles have grown together into
single strong bristle. There is also another sexual differ¬
ence. In the males the tip of the frenulum fits into a mem¬
branous hook borne on the lower surface of the fore wing,
thus firmly tying together the two wings (Fig. 237, /. h).
This frenulum hook is rarely found in females. In certain
moths there is, besides the frenulum hook, a tuft of hairs
projecting forwards from just behind the cubitus of the fore
wing near its base, which tends also to keep the frenulum in
place.

With some moths and with all skippers and all butterflies
the base of the costal portion of the hind wings, the humeral
angle as it is termed, is largely developed, so that it projects
far under the fore wing (Fig. 241). This overlapping of the
two wings at the base to so great an extent insures their act¬
ing together without the aid of the frenulum ; and, conse¬
quently, there being no use for a frenulum, this organ has
disappeared. In other words, the frenulum has been super¬
seded by the large development of the humeral angle. But
as we believe that these moths, skippers, and butterflies have
descended from forms which had a frenulum, we class them
with the moths that still possess this organ under the sub¬
order Frenatse.

A more easily observed character which serves to distin¬
guish members of this suborder is a striking difference in
the venation of the two pairs of wings, the hind wings hav¬
ing fewer veins than the fore wings.

218

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Family Megalopygid^e (Me-gal-o-pyg'i-dae).

The Flannel-moths.

Sometimes there is attracted to our evening lamp a
whitish moth, whose wings, being densely clothed with long
curly hairs, resemble bits of flannel ; this is the Crinkled

Flannel-moth, Megalopyge cris -
pata (Me-gal-o-py'ge cris-pa'ta).
It is cream-colored, with the fore
wings marked with wavy lines of
crinkled black and brownish hairs.
The male is represented by Fig¬
ure 246 ; the female is larger,
expanding one and three fifths
inches. In the female the antennae are very narrowly pecti¬
nate. The larva is said to feed on oak, elm, apple, and rasp¬
berry.

In the Southern States there occur three other species
of this family. These
moths are easily distin¬
guished by the structure
of their wings (Fig. 247).

There are three anal
veins in both fore and
hind wings ; but in the
fore wings the second
and third anal veins (veins
IX and XI) are partially
grown together. The
basal part of vein V is
more or less distinctly
preserved, and divides
the discal cell into two
nearly equal parts. Veins
II and III of the hind
wings are grown to¬
gether nearly to the end

Fig, 246. — Megalopyge crispata.

LEP1D0PTERA.

2ig

The larvae of the Flannel-moths are remarkable for the
possession of ten pairs of legs,
three thoracic and seven abdomi¬
nal. All other known lepidopter-
ous larvae, except perhaps those
of Micropteryx , have lost some of
the abdominal legs. The cocoons

of these insects are also remark- fig. 248.— Cocoon of Megaiopyge.
able, being furnished with a trap-door (Fig. 248).

Family PsYCHlDiE (Psy'chi-dae).

The Bag-worm Moths .

The Bag-worms are those caterpillars that have the curi*
ous habit of building each for itself a silken sac covered
with little twigs within which it lives (Figs.
249 and 250). When the caterpillar wishes
to move from one place to another it pushes
forth the front end of its body and creeps
along, carrying its house with it. It is said
that the species that inhabit Ceylon are be¬
lieved by the natives to be composed of
individuals who in a previous incarnation
were human beings and stole kindling-wood,
and who now atone for the theft by repeat¬
ing the act as an insect.

When a Bag-worm is fully grown, it
fastens its sac to a twig and changes to a
pupa within it. And here the females remain until death,
leaving their eggs within their
sacs. These females are grub¬
like creatures without wings.

But the male pupa works his
way out from the lower end

r 1 • j 1 j. Fig. 250.— Bag of Fig. 251. — Psyche

of his SaC and Changes to a Psyche con/ede - confederata.

winged moth. Figure 250 rep- rata'

resents the sac of a male with the empty pupa-skin projecting

Fig. 249.— Bag of
Oiketicus abbot ii.‘

220

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

from the lower end, and Figure 251 the fully developed
male. These figures are of one of our smaller species,
which belong to the genus Psyche (Psy'che).

Abbot's Bag-worm, Oiketicas abbotii (Oi-ket'i-cus ab-
bot'i-i). — This species occurs in the more southern part of
our country. The larva makes a bag with sticks attached
to it crosswise (Fig. 249).

The Evergreen Bag-worm, Tliyridopteryx ephemer&for -
mis (Thyr-i-dop'te-ryx e-phem-e-rae-for'-
mis). — This is our best known species,
and on this account has been commonly
called The Bag-worm. But as it is desir¬
able to have different names for the dif¬
ferent species, we call this one the Ever-

Fig. 252 .— Thyridofiteryx * r ... , , ,

tphent er a form is. green Bag-worm ; for although it feeds on

many different trees, it prefers red cedar and arbor vitae. The
bag of this species
is about the same size
as that of Abbot’s
Bag-worm; but it dif¬
fers in being covered
with bits of leaves of
cedar or arbor vitae, or
with twigs attached
lengthwise.

The structure of
the wings of the Psy-
chidae is very char¬
acteristic (Fig. 253).

Both the fore and
the hind wings may

have either two or ^IG. 253, — Wings of Thyridopteryx ephemertefortnis.

three anal veins ; but the anal veins of the
fore wings are grown together so as to ap¬
pear as a single much-branched vein. The
Fig. 254. base of vein V is preserved and is forked

LEPIDOPTERA.

221

within the discal cell. In the hind wings, veins I and II
and veins II and III are grown together in an unusual
way. In Figure 254 these veins are represented slightly
separated in order to show their relation to each other.

Family COSSID^E (Cos'si-dae).

The Carpenter-moths .

This family includes moths with spindle-shaped bodies,
and narrow, strong wings, some of the species resembling
Hawk-moths quite closely in this respect. The larvae are
wood-borers, living in the solid wood of the trunks of trees.
They are often very injurious to forest or shade trees, and
one recently imported species is very injurious to pear trees.
The wood-boring habits of the larvae suggest the popular
name Carpenter-moths for the insects of this family.

These moths fly by night, and lay their eggs on the bark

Fig. 255. — Wings of Prionoxy'tus robinite ; / \ frenulum, enlarged.

of trees, or within tunnels in trees from which adult Car¬
penter-moths have emerged. The caterpillars are nearly
naked, and, although furnished with pro-legs as well as true
legs, are grub-like in form. The pupa state is passed within

222

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

the burrow made by the larva. When ready to change to
an adult, the pupa works its way partially out from its bur¬
row. This is accomplished by means of backward-project¬
ing, saw-like teeth, there being one or two rows of these on
each abdominal segment. After the moths have emerged
the empty pupa-skins can be found projecting from the
deserted burrows.

The Carpenter-moths are of medium or large size. Our
more common species are of a pepper-and-salt color, due to
strongly contrasting dark and light scales. The antennae
are usually pectinate in both sexes, but in some species those
of the female are simple ; the ocelli are wanting ; and the
mouth-parts are obsolete.

The structure of the wings is shown in Figure 255
There are two anal veins in the fore wing, and three in the
hind wings. The base of vein V is preserved, and is forked
within the discal cell. In the fore wings, the branches of
vein III anastomose so as to form an accessory cell. The
frenulum is rudimentary in most of our genera (Fig. 255),
but is strongly developed in others.

Our most common species is the Locust-tree Carpenter-

Fig. 256. — Prionoxystus robinia.

moth, Prionoxystus robinice (Pri-on-ox-ys'tus ro-bin'i-ae);
Figure 256 represents the female natural size. The male is
but little more than half as large as the female. It is much

LEPIDOPTERA.

223

darker than the female, from which it differs also in having
a large yellow spot, which nearly covers the outer half of the
hind wings. This species flies in June and July. As sug¬
gested by its name, it infests locust; but its larva also bores
in the trunks of oak, poplar, willow, and other trees. It
is supposed that the species requires three years to com¬
plete its transformations.

The Leopard-moth, Zeuzera pyrina (Zeu-ze'ra py-ri'na)
is a large European species which has become common in
the vicinity of New York City, and will doubtless spread to
other parts of the country. It is white, spotted with numer¬
ous small black spots. Its larva is very injurious, especially
to maple. It infests other shade trees, and also apple and
pear.

Family EUCLEID^E (Eu-cle'i-dae).

The Slug-caterpillar Moths .

One often finds on the leaves of shrubs or trees elliptica)
or oval larvae that resemble slugs in the form of the body
and in their gliding motion. As these are larvae of moths
they have been termed Slug-caterpillars ; but they present
very little similarity in form to other caterpillars. The re¬
semblance to slugs is greatly increased by the fact that the

Fig. 257.— Larva of Eulimacodes scaphci. Fig. 258 ,—Euclea delpkinii , larva. Fig. 259.

lower surface of the body is closely applied to the object
upon which the larva is creeping, the pro-legs being replaced
by mere swellings on the abdominal segments. Some
species are naked (Fig. 257); but many of them are armed

224

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

with branching spines (Fig. 258). The larvae when full
grown spin very dense cocoons of brown silk ; these are
egg-shaped or nearly spherical (Fig. 259), and are usually
spun between leaves.

The moths are of medium or small size ; they vary

greatly in appearance,
11 and many of them air.*

ni5 very prettily colored.

Considerable variation
exists in the venation of
the wings in this family
(Figs. 260, 261). The
base of vein V may be
preserved or wanting. In
some species it is forked
within the discal cell, in
others not. There is also
considerable variation in
the coalescence of the
branches of radius, but
veins III8 and III4 co¬
alesce to a greater ex¬
tent than any other
branches of this vein, and there is no accessory cell.

The Skiff Caterpillar, Etilimacodes scapha (Eu-lim-a-co'des
sca'pha). — This remarkable larva (Fig. 257) is not uncommon
on oak and other forest trees. It is pale apple-green, with a
chestnut-brown patch on its back. The moth (Fig. 262) is
light cinnamon-brown, with a tan-brown triangular spot on
each fore wing.

The Spiny Oak-slug, Enclea delphinii (Eu'cle-a del-
phin'i-i). — This larva (Fig. 258) is one of the most common
of our slug-caterpillars. It feeds on the leaves of oak,
pear, willow, and other trees. The moth is cinnamon-
brown, with a variable number of bright green spots on the
fore wings (Fig. 263).

VIII

Fig. 260. — Wings of Adoneta spinuloides .

LEP1D0P TER A.

225

The Saddle-back Caterpillar, Empretia stiniulea (Em-
pre'ti-a sti-mu'le-a). — This larva can be recognized by Fig¬
ure 264. Its most characteristic feature is a large green

n iih hi.

patch on the back, resembling a saddle-cloth, while the
saddle is represented by an oval purplish-brown spot. The
moth is dark, velvety, reddish brown, with two golden dots

Fig. 262. — Eulimacodes scapha.

Fig. 263. — Euclea delphinii.

Fig. 264. — Empretia
stiniulea , larva.

near the apex of the fore wings. The larva feeds on oak
and other forest trees. The prick of its spines is said to be
venomous.

16

226

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Family PYROMORruiDiE (Pyr-o-mor'phi-dae).

The Smoky-moths.

There are but few insects in our country pertaining to
. , this family. These are small moths, that are

chiefly of a smoky black color; some are
W marked with brighter colors.

Vxtkus%ifar°iut A tiny representative of the family which
seems to be not uncommon in the East is Acoloithus fal-
sarins (Ac-o-loi'thus fal-sa'ri-us). This moth (Fig. 265)
expands two thirds of an inch. It is black, with the pro¬
thorax of an orange color. The venation of its wings (Fig.
266) is peculiar in that subcosta and radius of the hind wings

coalesce for only a short
distance beyond the mid¬
dle of the discal cell, and
a stump of radius pro¬
jects towards the base
of the wing, from the
point of union of the two
veins. The larva feeds
in early summer on the
leaves of grape and of
the Virginia creeper. It
is said that the pupa
state lasts fourteen days
and is passed within a parchment-like cocoon. The adult
frequents flowers in the daytime.

The typical genus of the family is represented in the At¬
lantic and Western States by Pyromorpha dimidiata (Pyr-o-
mor'pha di-mid-i-a'taj. The entire insect is smoky black,
except the basal half of the fore wings in front of vein IX,
and the basal half of the costa of the hind wings, which are
yellow. The wings are thinly scaled, and expand a little
more than one inch. Figure 267 represents the venation of
the wings.

hi, hi, mJ+4

Fig. 266. — Wings of Acoloithus falsarius.

LEP1D0PTERA .

227

In Texas and Arizona there occur several species of
Triprocris (Trip'ro-cris). The venation of one of them is
shown in Figure 268.. ir trr, Iri*

It is remarkable in that
none of the branches of
radius of the fore wings
coalesce beyond the dis-
cal cell.

The genus Harrisina
(Har-ris'i-na) seems to
be closely allied to the
preceding and is placed
in this family provision¬
ally. It differs, how¬
ever, from the typical
form of the family in xT"*^** VIIJ

that the anal area of Fig. 267. — Wings of Pyromorpha dimidiata, .

the hind wings is greatly reduced, there being only two,
short, strongly curved anal veins. As in the other members

of the family there are
two, well-developed anal
veins preserved in the
fore wings.

In the East the most
common species is Har¬
risina americana (H.
a-mer-i-ca'na) (Fig. 269).

au~ vu»t

Fio. 268.— Wings of Triprocris viarteni.

Fig. iffy.— Harrisina americana.

The wings are long and narrow; the abdomen is long and
widened towards the caudal end. It is greenish black in
color, with the prothorax reddish orange. The larva feeds

228

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

on the leaves of grape and of the Virginia creeper. An
entire brood of these larvae will feed side by side on a
single leaf while young.

Harrisina texana (H. tex-a'na) occurs in the Southwest.
It closely resembles the preceding; but is bluish black
with a reddish orange prothorax. Harrisina coracina (H.
cor-a-ci'na) also occurs in the Southwest. This species is
entirely black.

Superfamily Pyralidina (Pyr-a-li-di'na).

The Pyralids ( Pyr'a-lids ).

This superfamily includes moths of medium or small
size ; but so large a proportion of the species are small that
the superfamily is commonly classed with the two following
as Microlepidoptera.

The members of the different families included in this
superfamily differ so greatly in appearance that it is not

possible to give a gen¬
eral description that
will serve to distinguish
it. It is necessary to
study structural char¬
acters to find evidences
of a common bond, and
here as in other groups
we find the structure of
the wings most useful
for this purpose.

As a rule there are
three anal veins in the
hind wings and two in the fore wings. In this respect this
superfamily agrees with the preceding families and with the
two following superfamilies. But in most cases the Pyralids
can be recognized by the fact that the subcosta and radius of
the hind wings are separate along the discal cell, but grown

Fig. 270. — Wings of Nomophila noctuella .

LEPIDOPTERA. 22g

together for a short distance beyond the cell, after which
they are again separate
(Fig 270). In some gen¬
era these two veins do
not actually coalesce, but
extend very near to¬
gether for a short dis¬
tance (Fig. 271). The
two types, however, are
essentially the same.

This superfamily in¬
cludes seven families,
which can be separated
by the table given below.

The Plume -moths are
placed last in the series,
as we believe that they
depart more widely from the primitive type than do any
of the other families.

A. Wings not fissured.

B. Hind wings without a fringe of hairs on the basal part of vein
VII. Care must be taken not to mistake scattered hairs on the
anal area of the wing for such a fringe.

C. Fore wings with veins III4 and III6 separate, vein III6 arising

from the discal cell (Fig. 272). p.230 . Pyraustid^e.

CC. Fore wings with veins III4 and Ills united at base (Fig. 277).
p. 232 . PYRALIDIDiE.

BB. Hind wings with a fringe of long hairs on the basal part of
ve;n VII.

C. Radius of fore wings five-branched.

D. Maxillary palpi more or less developed, but not triangular

as in the next family, p. 233 . GalleriiDjE.

DD. Labial palpi long, straight, projecting forward ; maxillary
palpi well developed, strongly dilated at tip with scales, ap¬
pearing triangular when viewed from the side. p. 234.

Crambid;e.

CC. Radius of fore wings four-branched, veins Ills and 1 1 14
coalescing to edge of wing (Fig. 281). p. 235 . Phycitid^e.

Fig. 271. — Wings of Tlascala reductella .

230

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

A A. Wings fissured.

B. Wings with less than five fissures; usually the fore wings have
one fissure and the hind wings two. p. 237. — Pterophorid/e.

BB. Each wing split into six parts, p. 238 . ORNEODiDiE.

Family PYRAUSTID^E (Py-raus'ti-dse).

The Pyraustids (Py-raus'tids).

The members of this family differ from other Pyralids by
the following combination of characters. There is no fringe
of long hairs on the basal part of vein VII of the hind

wings, and vein 1 1 Ift of
the fore wings arises
from the discal cell dis¬
tinct from vein II I4 (Fig.
272). This family in¬
cludes many small
moths; but it contains
also the majority of the
larger species of Pyra¬
lids. Some of the species
are very striking in ap¬
pearance.

The Grape Leaf-
folder, Desmia funeralis (Des'mi-a fu-ne-ra'lis) is a common
species, the larva of which feeds on the leaves of grape.
The larva folds the leaf by fastening two portions together
by silken threads. When full grown, it
changes to a pupa within the folded leaf.

The moth is black with shining white spots.

The male (Fig. 273) differs from the fe¬
male in having a knot-like enlargement near * juneraUs.
the middle of each antenna. There is some variation in
the size and shape of the white spots on the wings. In
some specimens the white spot of the hind wing is sepa¬
rated into two or three spots.

Fig. 272. — Wings of Nomophila noctuella.

LEPIDOPTERA .

231

The Bass-wood Leaf-roller, Pantographa limata (Pan-
tog'ra-pha li-ma'ta). — Our bass-wood trees often present a

strange ap-
pearance
from the fact
that nearly
every leaf is
cut more than
half way
across the
middle, and
the end rolled
into a tube

(Fig. 274). Within this tube

there lives a bright green larva,

with the head and thoracic shield
black. This larva resembles cer¬

Fig. 275. — Pantographa limata .

tain Tortricid larvse, both in ap¬
pearance and habits ; but a study
of the adult shows it to be a Py-

FiG.274.— Nest of larva of Pantographa ralid. The moth expands about
limata . 4

one and one half inches ; it is
straw-colored, with many elaborate markings of olive with
a purplish iridescence (Fig. 275). There is one brood a
year ; the winter is passed in the larval state.

The Melon-worm, Margaronia hyalinata (Mar-ga-ro'ni-a
hy-a-li-na'ta). — This beautiful moth (Fig. 276) is often a
serious pest in our southern states, where the larva is very

232

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

destructive to melons and other allied plants, destroying
both the foliage and the fruit. The moth is a superb

Fig. 27 f>.—Margaronia hyalinata , larvae, cocoon, and adults. (From the Author’s

Report for 1879.)

creature, with glistening white wings bordered with black,
and with a spreading brush of long scales at the end of
the abdomen.

Family Pyralidid^e (Pyr-a-lid'i-dse).

The Typical Pyralids {Pyr' a-lids). *

The moths of this family are distinguished from other Pyr¬
alids, except the next family, by the absence of a fringe of
hairs on the basal part of vein VII of the hind wings; and
they are distinguished from that family by the fact that veins
III, and III, of the fore wings are united at base (Fig. 277).
It is one of the smaller of the families of Pyralids; fifty-four
species are now enumerated in our lists.

LEPIDOPTERA. 233

The Meal-moth, Pyralis farinalis (Pyr'a-lis far-i-na'lis) is
a common species.

The larva feeds on
meal, flour, and old
clover-hay. The moth
is commonly found
near the food of the
larva, but is often
seen on the ceilings
of rooms sitting with
its tail curved over
its back. It expands
about an inch ; the
fore wings are light
brown, crossed by
two curved white
lines, and with a dark
chocolate-brown spot

On the base and tip Fig. 277. — Wings of Pyralis farinalis .

of each.

The Clover-hay Worm, Pyralis costalis (Pyr'a-lis cos-ta'-
lis). The larva of this species sometimes abounds in old
stacks of clover-hay, and especially near the
bottom of such stacks. As the infested hay be¬
comes covered with a silken web spun by the
Fig. 278 .—Pyralis larva, and by its black gunpowder-like excre¬
ment, much more is spoiled than is eaten by
the insect. The moth expands about four fifths of an inch.
It is of a beautiful lilac color, with golden bands and fringes
(Fig. 278).

Family Galleriim: (Gal-le-ri'i-dae).

The Bee-moth Family .

This is a small family, of which only seven species have
been found in our fauna. The best known of these is the
Bee-moth, Galleria mellonella (Gal-le'ri-a mel-lo-nel'la). The

234

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Fig. zjg.— Galleria mello-
nella .

larva of this species is a well-known pest in apiaries. It
feeds upon wax ; and makes silk-lined galleries in the honey-
comb, thus destroying it. When full grown the larva
is about an inch in length. It lies hidden in its gallery dur¬
ing the day, and feeds only at night, when the tired-out bees
are sleeping the sleep of the just. When ready to pupate
the caterpillar spins a tough cocoon against the side of the
hive.

The moth has purplish-brown front wings, and brown or
faded yellow hind wings. The fore wings of the male are

deeply notched at the end, while those
of the female (Fig. 279) are but slightly
so. The female moth creeps into the
hive at night to lay her eggs.

This pest is found most often in weak
colonies of bees, which it frequently
destroys. The best preventive of its
injuries is to keep the colonies of bees strong. Of course
the moths and larvae should be destroyed whenever found.
But the moths are slippery like other expert thieves, and
run so rapidly when disturbed that it is very
difficult to catch them.

Family Crambid^e (Cram'bi-dae).

The C/ose-wings.

Although this is not a large family, there
being only seventy-five species known in our
fauna, the members of it are more often seen
than any other Pyralids. The larvae of most
of the species feed on grass; and the adults
fly up before us whenever we walk through
meadows or pastures. When at rest, the moths
wrap their wings closely about the body; this
has suggested the name Close-wings for the
insects of this family. When one of these
moths alights on a stalk of grass it quickly places its body

Fig. 280. — Cram
bus.

LEPID OP TER A .

235

parallel with the stalk, which renders it less conspicuous
(Fig. 280). Many of the species are silvery white or are
marked with stripes of that color.

More than fifty of our species belong to the genus Cram -
bus (Cram'bus). The moths of this genus are often seen;
but the larvae usually escape observation. They occur
chiefly near the surface of the ground, where they live in
tubular nests constructed of bits of earth or vegetable
matter.

Family PllYClTlDiE (Phy-cit'i-dae).

The Phycitids ( Phyc'i-tids ).

Our most common members of this family are small
moths with rather narrow but long fore wings, which are
banded or mottled with
various shades of gray
or brown. The family
is, however, a large one
and other types of col¬
oration occur. The dis¬
tinctive characteristics
are those given in the
table above. Figure 281
represents the venation
of the wings.

The larvae of the dif-
erent species vary greatly
in habits. Some live in
flowers," some fold or roll
leaves within which they
live and feed; some are borers; others feed upon dried
fruits, or flour and meal ; and one, at least, is preda¬
ceous, feeding on coccids. Usually the larva lives in a
silken tube or case, lying concealed by day and feeding by
night.

Fig. 281. — Wings of T.lascala reductella.

236

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS

Fig. 282.

The case made by certain of the leaf-eating species is
very characteristic in form (Fig. 282), being strongly taper¬
ing and much curved ; in this instance the
case is composed largely of the excrement of
the larva.

The Indian-meal Moth, Plodia interpunc -
tella (Plo'di-a in-ter-punc-tel'la) is the best
known of the species that infest stored
provisions. The larva is the small whitish
worm, with a brownish -yellow head, that
spins thin silken tubes through meal or among
yeast-cakes, or in bags or boxes of dried fruits. The moth
expands about five eighths of an inch. The basal two fifths
of the fore wing is dull white or cream-colored ; the outer
part reddish brown, with irregular bands of blackish scales.

The Mediterranean Flour -moth, Ephestia kiihniella
(E-phes'ti-a kiihn-i-el'la), is an even more serious pest than
the preceding species, which it resembles in habits. It has
become very troublesome in recent years in flouring-mills.
The moth expands about one inch, and is grayish in color.
Although it is called the Mediterranean Flour-moth, its
source is not definitely known. Nor do we know of any
easy way of ridding an infested mill of it. Carbon bisul¬
phide is perhaps the most available insecticide in this
case.

Zimmermann’s Pine-pest, Pinipestis zinvmermanni (Pin-i-
pes'tis zim-mer-man'ni), is a common species, the larva of
which is a borer. It infests the trunks of pine, causing large
masses of gum to exude. The moths appear in mid¬

summer.

The Coccid-eating Pyralid, Laztilia coccidivora (Lse-til'i-a
coc-ci-div'o-ra), differs from the other members of this
family in being predaceous. It feeds on the eggs and
young of various scale-insects ( Pulvinaria , Dactylopius , and
Lecanium ). Figure 283 represents the different stages of
this insect enlarged, and the moths natural size resting on

LEPIDOPTERA.

237

egg-sacs of Pulvinaria . Like other members of this family
the larva spins a silken tube, within which it lives. On a

Fig. 283.- latilia cocctdivora ; a> egg; b , larva ; c , pupa; d , adult; moths natural

size resting on egg-sacs of Pulvinaria .

thickly- infested branch these tubes may be found extending
from the remains of one coccid to another.

Family Pterophoridae (Pter-o-phor'i-dae).

The Plume-moths .

The Plume -moths are so called on account of the
remarkable form of the wings, which are split by longitu-

238

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

dinal fissures into more or less plume-like divisions. In
most species the fore wing is separated into two parts, by
a fissure extending about one half the length of the wing;
while the hind wing is divided into three parts by fissures
extending farther towards the base of the wing. Sixty
species belonging to the family have been found in North
America.

One of our most common species is the Gartered Plume,
Oxyptilus per iscelidacty his (Ox-yp'ti-lus per-is-cel-i-dac'ty-lus).

This is a small moth, expanding about seven
tenths of an inch. It is of a yellowish brown
color marked with dull whitish streaks and
spots (Fig. 284). The larvre hatch early in the
spring, and feed upon the newly-expanded
leaves of grape. They fasten together
several of them, usually those at the end of a shoot, with
fine white silk; between the leaves thus folded the cater¬
pillars live either singly or two or three together. They
become full grown and change to pupae early in June.
The pupa is not enclosed in a cocoon, but is fastened

Fig. 284 — Oxyptilus
Peri seel idactylus.

to

the lower side of a leaf by its tail by means of a few silken
threads, in nearly the same way that the chrysalids of certain
butterflies are suspended. The pupa state lasts about eight
days.

Family ORNEODIM: (Or-ne-od'i-dm).

Fig. 285. — Orneodes
hexadactyla.

The Ma7iy-pliime Moths.

These insects resemble the Plume
Moths in having the wings fissured ;
but here the fissuring is carried to a
much greater extent than in that fam-
ily, each wing being divided into six
plumes (Fig. 285).

As yet only a single species of this
family has been found in North Amer¬
ica. 1 his is Orneodes hexadactyla (Or-
ne-o'des hex-a-dac'ty-la).

LEPIDOPTERA .

239

Superfamily TORTRICINA (Tor-tri-ci'na).

The Tor tricids {Tor' tri-ads').

The Tortricids are generally small moths ; but as a rule
they are larger than the Tineids. They have broad front
wings, which usually end squarely. The costa
of the front wing curves forward strongly
near the base of the wing. When at rest the
broad front wings fold above the body like a
roof. The moths are variegated in color, but
are usually brown, gray, or golden rather than
of brighter hues. As a rule the hind wings
are of the color of the body and without
markings. In the venation of the wings they
differ from the Pyralids in having subcosta
and radius of the hind wings widely separate
beyond the end of the discal cell ; and from
the Tineids in having the second anal vein
of the hind wings forked towards the base
(Fig. 286).

The larvae
vary greatly in
habits ; but a
large proportion
of them are leaf-
rollers (Fig. 287).

It was this habit
that suggested
the name Tor -
trix (Tor'trix)
for the typical
genus, from

which the names of one family and of the
superfamily are derived. A large proportion of the rolled
leaves found upon shrubs and trees are homes of Tortricid
larvae. But it should be remembered that the leaf-rolling
habit is net confined to this family.

11 ni, ma

XI ix

Fig. 286.— Wings of Caccecia
cerasivora tta.

Fig. 287. — Leaf
rolled by a
larva, probably
a Tortricid.

240

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The rolled leaves serve the Tortricid larvae not merely
as homes but also as food, for they feed upon the enclosed
portions. Sometimes several leaves are used by a larva,
but more often only one, or in many cases merely a tip or
one edge of a leaf is used. Some species cut a slit in a leaf
and roll only one part of it. They also differ greatly as to
the extent to which the leaves are rolled. Some species are
gregarious, an entire brood making a common nest. During
the latter part of the summer and in the autumn these
rolled leaves can be found on almost any tree or shrub.

In nearly all cases entomologists in naming Tortricids
have formed the specific name with the ending -ana; so
that the form of the name indicates the family to which the
insect belongs.

More than four hundred North American species of
Tortricids are known. The superfamily includes three fam¬
ilies, which can be separated by the following table : —

A. With a fringe of long hairs on the basal part of vein VII of the
hind wings, on the upper side of the wing. Do not mistake a
bunch of long hairs arising from the wing back of vein VII for

this fringe, p. 240 . Grapholithidje.

A A. Without a fringe of long hairs on the basal part of vein VII of
the hind wings.

B. Vein VII3 of the fore wings arising from the outer fourth of the
discal cell, p. 243 . Conch yliDjE.

BB. Vein Vila of the fore wings arising from a point before the
outer third of the discal cell, p. 244 . TortriciDjE.

Family GRAPHOLITHlDiE (Graph-o-lith'i-dae).

The Grapholith ids ( Gra-phol i-th ids).

These moths are easily distinguished from other Tortri¬
cids by the presence of a fringe of long hairs on the basal
part of cubitus of the hind wing. To this family belong
nearly two thirds of our species of Tortricids. The follow
ing are some of our more common species : —

LEPIDOPTERA.

24I

The Codling-moth, Carpocapsa pomo?iella { Car-po-cap'sa
pom-o-nel'la). — This is the best-known and probably the
most important insect enemy of the fruit-grower. The
larva is the worm found feeding near the core of wormy
apples. The adult (Fig. 288) is a beautiful little creature
with finely mottled pale gray or rosy fore
wings. There is a large brownish spot near
the end of the fore wing, and upon this spot
irregular, golden bands. The moth issues
from the pupa state in late spring and lays
its eggs singly on the surface of the fruit or
on adjacent leaves. As soon as the larva hatches it bur¬
rows into the apple and eats its way to the core, usually
causing the fruit to fall prematurely. When full grown
the larva burrows out through the side of the fruit, and
undergoes its transformations within a cocoon, under the
rough bark of the tree, or in some other protected place.
The species is both single-brooded and double-brooded.
The larvae winter in their cocoons, transforming to pupae
during early spring.

The method of combating this pest that is most com¬
monly employed now is to spray the trees with Paris-
green water, just after the petals fall and before the young
apples are heavy enough to droop. The falling spray
lodges in the blossom end of the young apple, and many
of the larvae which attempt to enter at this point, the
usual place of entrance, get a dose of poison with their
first meal.

The Bud-moth, Tmetocera ocellana (Tme-toc'e-ra oc-el-
la'na). — The larva of this insect is also a pest infesting ap¬
ple-trees. It works in opening fruit-buds and leaf-buds, often
eating into them, especially the terminal ones, so that all new
growth is stopped. It also ties the young leaves at the end
of a shoot together and lives within the cluster thus formed,
adding other leaves when more food is needed. Sometimes
so large a proportion of the fruit-buds are destroyed as to
17

242

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

seriously reduce the amount of the crop. The pupa state is
passed within the cluster of tied leaves or within a tube
formed by rolling up one side of a leaf, and lasts about ten
days. The moth expands about three fifths of an inch ; it is
of a dark ashen gray, with a large, irregular, whitish band on
the fore wing.

Fig. 289. — Retinia co»tstockianay larva, pupa, adult, and work. (From the Author’s

Report for 1879.)

The Pitch-pine Retinia, Retinia comstockiana (Re-tin'i-a
com-stock-i-a'na). — This species (Fig. 289) illustrates well

LEPIDOPTERA.

243

the habits of the boring species. The larva infests the
small branches of pitch-pine. It is a yellowish-brown
caterpillar, which makes a burrow along the centre of
the branch. Its presence may be detected by the resin
that flows out of the wound in the twig and hardens
into a lump. Two of these lumps are shown in the
figure, one of them splits lengthwise,
and the other with a pupa-skin pro¬
jecting from it. The larva, pupa,
and adult are also figured. The
moth is represented natural size;
the darker shades are dark rust-
color, and the lighter, light-gray.

The insect winters as a larva; the
adult emerges in May and June.

The Frustrating Retinia, Retinia
frustra)ia(ivws-\.ra! — This species

infests the new growth of several
species of pine, spinning a delicate
web around the terminal bud, and Fig. 290.— Retinia frustr ana, larva,

. . pupa, adult, and work. (From

mining both the twig and the bases thc Author’s Report for 1879.)
of the leaves. The larva, pupa, and adult are represented
somewhat enlarged in the figure. An infested twig is also
shown (Fig. 290).

Family C0NCHYLID.££ (Con-chyl'i-dae).

The Conchy lids (Con' chy -lids').

This is the smallest of the three families of Tortricids, less
than fifty species occurring in our fauna. The members of
it can be recognized by the characters given in the table
above. Comparatively little is known about the habits of
our species.

The Juniper Web-worm, Conchylis rutilana (Con'chy-lis
ru-ti-la'na), is an imported species which has attracted atten-

244

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

tion by its injuries to junipers, the leaves of which it fastens
together with silk. In this way it makes a more or less per¬
fect tube within which it lives. The moth expands about
one half inch, and has bright, glossy, orange, fore wings,
crossed by four reddish brown bands.

Family TORTRICID^E (Tor-tric'i-dae).
The Typical Tortricids ( Tor'tri-cids ).

The Tortricidae agree with the preceding family in lack¬
ing a fringe of long hairs on the basal part of vein VII of the
hind wings, but differ in that vein VII, of the hind wings
separates from the main stem before the outer third of the
discal cell. More than one hundred and twenty North
American species are known.

Several of our best-known members of this family belong
to the genus Caccecia (Ca-coe'ci-a). These may be called the
Ugly-nest Tortricids, ugly dwelling being the meaning of
Caccecia , and also descriptive of the nests of the larvae of
these insects.

Figure 291 represents the nest of the larva of Caccecia ro-
sana (C. ro-sa'na), which we bred on currant ; and Figure 292,

the adult of this species. This
moth expands three fourths of
an inch. The fore wings are
olive-brown, crossed by bands
of darker color ; the hind wings
are dusky. This species differs

Fig. 291. —Nest of Caccecia rosana.

Fig. 292. — Caccecia rosana .

from the two following in that each larva makes a nest for
itself.

LEPJDOPTERA.

245

The Cherry-tree Ugly-nest Tortricid, Cacoecia cerasivo -
rana (C. cer-a-si-vo-ra'na), lives upon the
choke-cherry and sometimes upon the cul¬
tivated cherry. The larvae, which are yel¬
low, active creatures, fasten together all
the leaves and twigs of a branch and feed
upon them (Fig. 293), an entire brood oc¬
cupying a single nest. The larvae change
to pupae within the nest ; and the pupae,
when about to transform, work their way
out and hang suspended from the outer
portion of the nest, clinging to it only by
hooks at the tail end of the body. Here
they transform, leaving the empty pupa-
skins projecting from the nest, as shown
in the figure. The moths vary in size, the
wing expanse of those we have bred rang¬
ing from four fifths of an inch to nearly
one and one-fifth inches. The wings are
bright ochre-yellow ; the front pair marked
with irregular brownish spots and numer-

Fig. 293.— Nest of Caccecia

cerasivorana .

Fig. 294. — Caccecia ctrasi -
vorana , male.

Fig. 295. — Caccecia cerasi¬
vorana, female.

ous transverse bands of pale leaden blue (Fig. 294 male,
295 female).

The Oak Ugly-nest Tortricid, Caccecia fervadana (C. fer-
va-da na). — The nests of this species are common on our
oak-trees in late summer. They are merely a wad of leaves
fastened together. Each nest contains several larvae ; later
the empty pupa-skins may be found clinging to the outside
of the nest as in the preceding species.

The Pine-leaf Tube-builder^ Lophoderus politaiia (Lo-

24 6

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

phod'e-rus pol-i-ta'na). — One of the most interesting of Tor-
tricid nests occurs commonly on white pine. Each nest
consists of from six to ten leaves drawn together so as to
form a tube, and is lined within with silk. This tube serves
as a protection to the larva, from which it comes out to feed
upon the ends of the very leaves of which the tube is com¬
posed; in this way the tube is shortened. We bred the
moth from nests collected at Ithaca, New York; but we
have found similar nests as far south as Florida. The moth
expands one half inch. Its head, thorax, and fore wings are
of a dull rust-red color, with two oblique paler bands cross¬
ing the fore wings, one a little before the middle, the other
beyond, parallel to it.

Superfamily TlNElNA (Tin-e-i'na).

The Tineids {Tin' e-ids).

The Tineids are nearly all minute moths with narrow
wings, which are bordered with wide fringes. A few species
are of considerable size, and have broader wings, with nar¬
rower fringes.

The narrow-winged forms can be distinguished from all
other moths by the shape of the wings and the great width
of the fringes. The moths figured below (Figs. 298, 299,
300, 302) illustrate this. It should be remembered that in

each of these figures the insect
is represented greatly enlarged ;
in most cases the size of the
insect is represented by a hair¬
line near the figure.

The wide-winged forms are
most surely distinguished by
the venation of the wings. In
its more general features the
venation of the wings in this
family is similar to that of the Tortricids; it differs, how-

LEPID OP TER A. 247

ever, in that the second anal vein of the hind wings is not
forked towards the base (Fig. 296).

The venation of the wings of the more generalized Tineids is quite
primitive in type; there are two anal veins in the fore wings, three
anal veins in the hind wings, and the base of vein V is preserved
throughout the length of the discal cell. But the more specialized
members of the superfamily present a wide departure from this gen¬
eralized type. With these the base pf vein V has disappeared from
both pairs of wings, and the venation of the hind wings is reduced to
a greater extent than is seen elsewhere in winged Lepidoptera.

Correlated with this great reduction of the hind wings there has
been a great expansion of the fringe of the wing. It is evident that
the fringe of the wing takes the place of the wing-membrane as an
organ of flight. In those Tineids that we have studied carefully the
hairs composing the fringe are inserted in the lower side of the wing-
membrane a short distance back from the edge of the wing; and the
edge of the wing is stiffened above by strong overlapping scales.
This arrangement renders the fringe rigid during the downward
stroke of the wing, but admits of its depression during the upward
stroke; a combination well adapted to facilitate flight. The substi¬
tution of wide fringes for the wing-membrane occurs in some other
minute insects, as Thrips and certain minute, parasitic Hymenop-
tera.

To this superfamily belong the smallest of the Lepidop¬
tera ; many of them are so minute that the larvae live until
full grown within the tissue of leaves.

These tiny moths are often very beautiful, their wings
being marked with scales that shine like silver or gold ; but
they are so small that it is necessary to examine them with
a lens to appreciate their beauty.

The larvae of nearly all Tineids feed upon vegetable
matter. The majority of them feed upon or within the
leaves of plants, but many live within nuts, or seeds, or dried
fruits; a few feed upon dead animal matter, as woolens,
furs, and feathers; and some are predaceous, destroying
scale-bugs.

Entomologists have a custom of terminating the name
of each species of Tineid with -< ella . Thus we have Tinea

248

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

granella , Adela ridingsella , Bucculatrix pomonella , and many
hundreds of others; until the syllable -ella always brings
before us a vision of a tiny moth, with narrow wings bear¬
ing long delicate fringes.

The Tineids are very numerous, there being nearly one
thousand described American species ; and doubtless there
are many undescribed as yet. The superfamily is composed
of several families; but, as the study of these insects is
too difficult to be carried far by the beginning student, we
will not take the space to define these families in this work.
We will merely describe the habits of a few species.

At first thought the leaves of our common shrubs and
trees seem quite as thin as if they had been cut out of
sheets of paper. But the reader has doubtless learned in
the study of Botany that the upper and the lower surfaces
of a leaf are each covered with a thin skin or epidermis, and
that between these two skins there is a fleshy portion called
the parenchyma. But if botanists had failed to teach us
this lesson, the Tineid larvae would have done so ; for many
of these little creatures live until full grown between the two
skins of a leaf, and derive their nourishment from the paren¬
chyma. As our coal-miners dig tunnels in the earth, so do
these larvae eat out long passages in the substance of a leaf,
without breaking through either epidermis.

During1 the late summer and autumn there can be found
on almost any shrub or tree leaves that are more or less dis-*
colored by white or grayish blotches or by long twisted
lines that reveal the abiding-places of leaf-miners. Surely
Mr. Lowell must have had these in mind when he wrote ;

“ And there’s never a leaf nor a blade too mean
To be some happy creature’s palace.”

Not only are very many kinds of plants infested by
Tineid larvae, but the mines in the leaves differ greatly in
form and in their position in the leaf. These differences in
food-plant and in the shape and ^position of the mines do

LEPIDOPTERA .

249

not indicate that these larvae are inconstant in their habits.
In fact, the opposite is the case. Each species of Tineid
infests a particular species of plant, or, at the most, several
closely allied plants. And each species makes a mine of
definite shape, although some species exhibit different habits
in the different stages of their growth. So constant are
these creatures in their habits that in most cases an expert
can determine the species of Tineid that made a mine by
merely examining the infested leaf.

The various kinds of mines can be classed under a few
distinct types. The long, narrow, and more or less winding
mines are described as
linear mines. Some of
these are very narrow at
their beginning and grad¬
ually enlarge, resembling
in outline a serpent; fre¬
quently the larger end is
terminated by a blotch¬
like enlargement, suggest¬
ing a head. Such mines
are termed serpent hie

mines . The leaves of the
wild columbine are often
marked by serpentine
mines (Fig. 297). Other

mines that start from a narrow beginning enlarge more
rapidly and extend in a more or less regular curve ; these
are trumpet mines. A common example of a trumpet
mine is that made by the larva of Tischeria malifoliella
(Tis-che'ri-a mal-i-fol-i-el'la) in the leaves of apple. The
mines of many species are mere disk-like blotches ; these are
referred to as blotch mines (Fig. 298). Blotch mines differ in
position ; some are immediately beneath the upper epider¬
mis, while others are nearer the lower surface of the leaf.
This distinction exists also in most of the other types of

Fig. 297.— Leaf with serpentine mines

250 THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

mines. In some of the blotch mines the epidermis of one
side of the leaf is thrown into a fold by the growth of the
leaf ; these are tentiform mi?ies .

In addition to peculiarities in shape many mines are
marked by characteristic lines or spots composed of the
droppings of the larva.

The following species will serve to illustrate the habits
of these remarkable insects.

The White-blotch Oak-leaf Miner, Lithocolletis hamadrya -
della (Lith-o-col-le'tis ha-mad-ry-a-del'la). — This little miner
infests the leaves of many different species of oak, and some-

Fig. 298. — Lithocolletis ha t?i a dryad el la : a, mine; by young larva; Cy full-grown, flat-form
larva; d , head of same, enlarged; e, antenna of same, enlarged; y, round-form larva
from above; same from below; h, head of same, enlarged; antenna of same, en¬
larged; ky maxilla and palpus of same, enlarged; /, labium, labial palpi, and spinnerets
of same; w, pupa; n, side view of pupal crest; ot front view of same; y, cocoon; Q.
moth. (From the Author's Report for 1879.)

times it is extremely abundant. We have seen trees infested
so badly that there were on an average four or five mines in
each leaf. Figure 298 represents a leaf from such a tree. The
mine is a whitish, blotch mine in the upper side of the leaf.

LEPIDOPTERA.

251

The young larva is remarkable in resembling more the larva
of a beetle than the ordinary type of lepidopterous larvae.
It is nearly flat ; the first thoracic segment is much larger than
any of the others; the body tapers towards the hind end;
and there are only the faintest rudiments of legs discernible.
The larvae molt seven times. At the seventh molt the form
of the body undergoes a striking change. It now becomes
cylindrical in form, there is a great change in the shape of
the mouth-parts, and the fourteen feet are well developed.
This change in form during the life of the larva is charac¬
teristic of a large group of Tineids of which this species may
be taken as a type. The full-grown cylindrical larva meas¬
ures about one-fifth inch in length. It spins a cocoon, which
is simply a delicate, semi-transparent, circular sheet of white
silk, stretched over a part of the floor of the mine. The
pupa is dark brown in color, and bears a toothed crest upon
its head, which enables it doubtless to pierce or saw its way
out from the cocoon. The moth is a delicate little creature,
whose wings expand a little more than one-fourth inch. The
fore wings are white, with three, broad, irregular, bronze
bands across each, and each band is bordered with black on
the inner side. The hind wings are silvery.

As this insect passes the winter as a larva within the dry
leaves, the best way to check its ravages when it becomes a
pest is to rake up and burn such leaves.

The Palmetto-leaf Miner, Laverna sabalella (La-ver'na
sab-a-lel'la). — This species occurs only in the South where
the saw-palmetto grows. But it is of general interest as
illustrating a peculiar type of larval habit. The larvae can
hardly be said to be leaf-miners; for they feed upon the
upper surface of the leaf, destroying the skin as well as the
fleshy part of the leaf. They are social, working together in
small companies, and make a nest consisting of a delicate
sheet of silk covering that part of the leaf upon which they
are feeding; this sheet is covered with what appears like
sawdust, but which is really a mass of the droppings of the

252

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

larvas (Fig. 299). The full grown larva attains a length of
half an inch. The pupa state is passed within the nest made
by the larvae. The moth is quite large for a Tineid, the
wings expanding five eighths of an inch. Its general color is

Fig. 299. — Laverna sabalellu , larva, pupa, adult, and part of injured leaf. (From
the Author’s Report for 1879.)

a delicate silvery gray, with a tinge of lavender in some in¬
dividuals.

The Pine-leaf Miner, Gelcchia pinifoliella (Ge-le'ch i-a pin-i-
fol-i-el'la). — It often happens that the ends of the leaves of
pine present a dead and brown appearance that is due to the
interior of the leaf having been eaten out. This is the work
of the Pine-leaf Miner (Fig. 300). At the right season it is
easy to see the long, slender larva in its snug retreat by
holding a leaf up to the light and looking through it ; and
later the pupa can be seen in the same way. Near the lower
end of the tunnel in each leaf there is a round hole through
which the larva entered the leaf and from which the adult
emerges. We have found this insect in several of the
stouter-leaved species of pine, but never in the slender
leaves of the white pine. In the North it is most abundant
in the leaves of pitch-pine.

LEPIDOPTERA .

253

The Apple Bucculatrix, Bucculatrix pomifoliella (Buc-cu-
la'trix pom-i-fol-i-el'la). — This insect differs in habits in sev-

Fig. 300 .—Gelechia pinifoliella, larva, pupa, adult, and leaves rained by the larva. (From
the Author's Report for 1879.)

eral respects from any of the other Tineids described here.
The larva infests the leaves of apple, and when full grown
it makes a small white cocoon which is attached to the
lower surface of a twig. These cocoons sometimes occur in
great numbers, side by side, on the twigs of an infested tree
(Fig. 301). They are easily recognized by their shape being
slender, and ribbed lengthwise. It is these cocoons that
usually first reveal the presence of this pest in an orchard.
They are very conspicuous during the winter when the
leaves are off the trees. At this time each cocoon contains
a pupa. The adult moth emerges in early spring. The
eggs are laid on the lower surface of the leaves. Each
larva when it hatches bores directly from the egg to the
upper surface of the leaf, where it makes a brown serpentine

254

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

mine. When these mines are abundant in a leaf it turns
yellow and dies. When the larva has made a mine from
one-half to three-fourths of an inch long, which it does in
from four to five days, it eats its way out through the upper
surface. Then somewhere on the upper
surface of the leaf it weaves a circular silken
covering about one-twelfth inch in diam¬
eter. Stretched out on this network the
larva, which is now about one-tenth inch long,
makes a small hole in it near its edge, then,
as one would turn a somersault, it puts its
head into this hole and disappears beneath
the silken covering, where it undergoes a
change of skin. It remains in the molting
cocoon usually less than twenty-four hours.
After leaving this cocoon it feeds upon the
leaves without making a mine; and in a few
days makes a second molting cocoon which
differs from the first only in being about one-
_ _ eighth inch in diameter. After leaving this it

if0fitiiCalatrixpom~ a?ain feeds for a few days, and then mi¬
grates to a twig where it makes the long
ribbed cocoon within which the pupa state is passed. This
very interesting life-history was first worked out by Mr. A. E.
Brunn while a student in the writer’s laboratory at Cornell
University.

When it is necessary to combat this pest the smaller
twigs bearing cocoons should be pruned as far as practicable
during the winter and burned, and those cocoons that
remain on the larger branches should be washed with strong
kerosene emulsion.

The Resplendent Shield-bearer, Aspidisca splendoriferella
(As-pi-dis'ca splen-do-rif-e-rel'la). — This Tineid is both a
miner and a case-bearer. It feeds within apple-leaves, and at
first makes a linear mine; but later this is enlarged into a
blotch mine. When full grown the larva makes an oval case

LEPIDOP TER A .

255

cut from the walls of its mine and lined with silk. It then
seeks a safe place in which to fasten this case and pass the
winter. This is usually on the trunk or on a branch of the in¬
fested tree (Fig. 302). Once some of these migrating larvae
dropped from a tree upon the writer’s hat and carefully

Fig. 30 n.—Aspidisca sfilendoriferella : a , leaf of apple showing work; 6, summer larva;
c, larva in case travelling; </, cases tied up for winter; et hibernating larva; /y pupa;
g, moth ; A, parasite. (From the Author’s Report for 1879.)

fastened themselves to the band with misplaced confidence
that they could remain there till spring. The adult has
gray and golden wings with silvery and dark markings.

The Maple-leaf Cutter, Incurvarm acerifoliella (In-cur-
va'ri-a a-cer-i-fol-i-el'la). — This insect illustrates still another

256

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS .

curious type of larval habits. It infests the leaves of maple,
and occasionally is so abundant that it does serious injury.
The leaves of an infested tree present a strange appearance
(Fig. 303). They are perforated with numerous elliptical holes,

and marked by many more or
less perfect ring-like patches
in which the green substance
of the leaf has been destroyed,
but each of which incloses an
uninjured spot. These inju¬
ries are produced as follows:
The young larva cuts an oval
piece out of a leaf, places it
over its back, and fastens it
down with silk around the
edges. This serves as a house
beneath which it lives. As it
grows this house becomes too
small for it. It then cuts out
a larger piece which it fastens
to the outer edges of the

Fig. 303. — Leaf infested by Inctirvarta, smaller One, the larva being

between the two. Then it fastens one edge of this case to
the leaf by a silken hinge so that it will not fall to the
ground “ cradle and all,” and then turns the case over so that
the larger piece is over its back. When it wishes to change
its location it thrusts out its head and fore legs from the
case and walks off, looking like a tiny turtle. When it
wishes to eat it fastens the case to the leaf and, thrusting its
head out, eats the fleshy part of the leaf as far as it can reach.
This explains the circular form of the patches, the round
spot in the center indicating the position of the case. The
insect passes the winter in the pupa state within its case?
which falls to the ground with the infested leaf. The moth
is of a brilliant steel-blue or bluish-green color without spots;
it appears in early summer.

LEPIDOPTERA .

257

Other Case-bearers . — The two case-bearers described
above make their cases out of fragments of leaves ; there
are others that use the husks of seeds which they have
eaten. Such cases are extremely protective, appearing to
be merely seeds. But there are some Tineid case-bearers
that make their cases entirely of silk. These are usually
more or less nearly cylindrical, and are carried projecting
out at a considerable angle from the object upon which the
insect walks. When the insect is at rest and when it is
undergoing its transformations the mouth of the case is
closely fastened to some object, so that the insect is com¬
pletely concealed. Considerable differences exist in the
form of these silken cases. In a quite common type the
case is nearly cylindrical, with a flaring lip at the head end,
and with the hind end three-sided, as if it had been pinched
between one’s thumb and two fingers. In another type the
hind end of the case is somewhat enlarged and curved down¬
ward so that the case is shaped like a pistol.

The Clothes- moths. — These are the dread of every house¬
keeper. The mere mention of the word “moths” is enough
to conjure up visions of household treasures of woolen and fur
eaten full of holes, their beauty gone, their usefulness past.
It was formerly supposed that these well-known injuries
were caused by a single species ; but it has since been dis¬
covered that we have in this country three species of clothes-
moths. These differ in habits as well as in structure.

The Case-bearing Cloth es-moth, Tinea pellionella (Tin'e-a
pel-li-o-neria). — The larva of this species is a true case-
bearer, making a case out of bits of its food-material which
are fastened together with silk. As the larva grows it en¬
larges its case by adding to each end and by slitting it and
inserting a piece. Instructive specimens can be obtained by
rearing the larvae, and changing them from time to time
from flannel of one color to that of another. The shape of
the successive additions to the case, being of different colors,
can be easily seen. The pupa state is passed within the
18

258

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

case. The adult is a small brown moth with a few dark
spots on its fore wings.

The Tube-building Clothes-moth, Tinea tapetzella (T.
tap-et-zel'la). — The larva of this species makes a gallery
composed of silk mixed with fragments of cloth. This gal¬
lery is long and winding and can be easily distinguished
from the case of the preceding species. The pupa state is
passed within the gallery. The moth differs greatly in ap¬
pearance from the other two species, the fore wings being
black from the base to the middle and white beyond.

The Naked Clothes-moth, Tinea biselliella (T. bi-sel-
li-eria). — Although this species spins some silk wherever it
goes, it makes neither a case nor a gallery. It may be
termed, therefore, the Naked Clothes-moth, in contradistinc¬
tion to the other two species. But when the larva is full
grown it makes a cocoon, which is composed of fragments
of its food-material fastened together with silk. The adult
is of a delicate straw-color, without dark spots on its wings.

Protection from C/oiJies-mot/is. — In late spring or early
summer all winter clothing, flannels, furs, and other articles
that are to be put away for the summer should be thor¬
oughly brushed or examined for these pests, and exposed to
the sunlight as long as practicable. Then they should be
wrapped carefully in stout paper, or better packed in paste¬
board boxes, which can be procured at small cost, and the
crack between the cover and the box closed by pasting a
strip of paper over it.

The Angoumois Grain-moth, Gelechia cerealella (Ge-
le'chi-a ce-re-a-lel'la). — Although this insect is closely allied
to the Pine-leaf Miner, its habits are very different. This
insect feeds upon seeds, and especially upon stored grain.
It occurs throughout our country; but it is especially de¬
structive in the Southern States. In that part of the coun¬
try it is extremely difficult to keep grain long on account
of this pest -and certain beetles that also feed on stored
grain. The adult moth is of a very light grayish-brown

LEPIDOPTERA.

259

color, more or less spotted with black ; it expands about
half an inch. The common name is derived from the fact
that it has been very destructive in the province of Angou-
mois, France.

Family SESIID/E (Se-si'i-dae).

The Clear-zvinged Moths or Sesiids (Se* si-ids).

The Clear-winged Moths constitute a very remarkable
family, many of them resembling bees or wasps in appear¬
ance more than they do ordinary moths, a resemblance
due to their clear wings and in some cases
to their bright colors (Fig. 304). There are a
few moths in other families, as the Clear¬
winged Sphinxes, and certain Zygaenids,
that have a greater or less part of the wings
devoid of scales ; but they are exceptions. Fig* 3°*-
Here it is the rule that the greater part of one or both pairs
of wings are free from, scales; hence the common name
Clear-winged Moths.

These insects are of moderate size; as a rule they have
spindle-shaped antennae, which are terminated by a small

silky tuft;
sometimes the
antennae are
pectinate ; the
margins of the
wings and the
veins of even
the clear¬
winged species
are clothed
with scales ;
and at the end
of the abdo¬
men there is

a fan-like tuft of scales.

The fore wings are remarkable for their extreme narrow-

26o

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

ness and the great reduction of the anal area (Fig. 3°5);
while the hind wings have a widely expanded anal area.
There is great variation within the family in the number of
anal veins in the hind wings, the number ranging from two
to four. The maximum number of anal veins in the Lepi-
doptera has generally been considered to be three ; but in
certain forms belonging to this family a fourth (vein X) is
quite well represented.

Another remarkable feature of all me forms that we
have studied is that in the female the bristles composing
the frenulum are consolidated as in the male. The females
also possess a frenulum hook ; but this is not so highly
specialized as that of the male.

The adults fly very swiftly and during the hotter part of
the day. They frequent flowers, thus increasing their resem¬
blance to bees or wasps. The larvae are borers, living within
the more solid parts of plants. Some species cause serious
injury to vegetation. Nearly one^iundred and fifty species
have been found in this country. Doubtless many more
exist ; for the family has not been thoroughly studied as yet.
The following species have attracted much attention on
account of their serious ravages.

The Peach-tree Borer, Sannina exitiosa (San-ni'na ex-it-i-
o'sa). — This is the most important insect enemy of the
peach-tree. In some parts of the country it is difficult to
find a peach-tree that is not infested by it. The eggs are
laid on the bark of the tree near the ground. The larvae
bore downward in the bark of the trunk just below the sur¬
face of the ground. Their burrows become filled by a
gummy secretion of the tree. As this oozes out in large
masses the presence of the borer is easily detected by it.
When full grown the larva comes to the surface of the
ground and makes a cocoon of borings fastened together
with silk. The perfect insects appear from May till October,
but most of them in the latter part of June and early vr
July. There is a single generation each year. The adults

LEPIDOPTERA.

26l

differ greatly in appearance. The general color of both
sexes is a glassy steel-blue. In the female (Fig. 306) the
fore wings are covered with scales, and
there is a bright orange-colored band
on the abdomen. In the male both
pairs of wings are nearly free from
scales. No better method of fighting
this pest has been found than to care- FlG* ^o6-—Sanmna exitl0Sa-
fully watch the trees and remove the larvae with a knife as
soon as discovered.

The Pacific Peach-tree Borer, Sannina pacijica (S. pa*
cif'i ca). — On the Pacific Coast there is a peach-tree borer
that is distinct from the above, and appears to be an even
more serious pest. The larva is more difficult to remove
from the tree, as it bores into the solid wood. The female
of this species lacks the orange-colored band on the abdomen.

The Currant Borer, Sesia tipuliformis (Se'si-a tip-u-li-for'-
mis). — This species is closely allied to the two preceding,
but is smaller, expanding only about three fourths of an
inch. There are but few scales on either pair of wings
except on the tip and discal vein of the fore wings and the
outer margin of the hind wings. The eggs are laid on the
twigs of currant. The larvae penetrate the stem, and de¬
vour the pith ; in this way they make a burrow in which
they live and undergo their transformations. The perfect
insects appear in June. Before this time the leaves of the
infested plant turn yellow. If such plants be cut and burned
in May the pest will be destroyed.

The Pine Sesian, Harmonia pini (Har-mo'ni-a pi'ni). —
Frequently there may be seen on the trunks of pine-trees
large masses of resinous gum mingled with sawdust-like
matter. These are the results of the work of the larvae of
this insect, which bore under the bark and into the superficial
layers of the wood. The adult resembles the female of the
Peach-tree Borer, but the abdomen is more extensively
marked with orange.

262

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The Squash-vine Borer, Melittia ceto (Me-lit'ti-a ce'to). —
The larva of this species (Fig. 307) does great damage by
eating the interior of squash-vines. In some places it is

Fic. 307 .—Melittia ceto, larva in squash-vine.

almost impossible to raise squashes on account of its rav¬
ages. The fore wings of the adult are covered with scales,
and the hind legs are fringed with long orange-colored scales.

Family Dioptid^E (Di-op'ti-das).

The Dioptids (Di-op' tids).

This family is represented in our fauna by a single known
species, Phryganidia californica (Phryg-a-nid'i-a cal-i-for'-

ni-ca), which occurs in Califor¬
nia. This is a pale-brown
insect, with nearly transparent
wings (Fig. 308). The veins
of the wings are dark, which
renders them prominent. In
the males there is a yellowish
spot just beyond the discal cell. The venation of the wings

Fig. 308. — Phryganidia californica.

LEPIDOP TER A . 263

(Fig. 309) is very different from that of any other insect
that occurs in this country.

The larvae feed upon the leaves of live-oaks, and some¬
times occur so abundantly as to almost strip the trees of
their foliage. They are said to feed singly, and appear to
make little if any use of the anal feet as a means of loco¬
motion, generally carrying the last segment of the body
elevated in the air.

Family Notodontid^: (No-to-don'ti-dae).

The Prominents .

This family includes moths of moderate size, only a few
of the larger ones expanding more than two inches. With
these moths the body is rather stout and densely clothed
with hair, and the legs, especially the femora, are clothed
with long hairs. The wings are strong, and not very broad,
the anal angle of the hind wings rarely reaching the end of
the abdomen. In their general appearance many of these
moths bear a strong resemblance to the Owlet Moths or
Noctuidae ; but they can be easily distinguished from the
Noctuids by the position of vein Va of the fore wings,
which does not arise nearer to vein VII than to vein III,
as it does in that family.

In some species the front wing has a prominence or
backward - project¬
ing lobe on the in¬
ner margin, which
has suggested the
common name of
Prominents for
these insects (Fig.

310). The name is
more generally ap¬
propriate, however, for the larvae, as a much larger propor¬
tion of them than of the adults bear striking prominences.

Fig. 310. — Pheosia rimosa •

264

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The characteristic features in the structure of the wings
are the following (Fig. 31 1) : the fore wings have a single

anal vein, the hind
wings two ; in both
wings cubitus is
apparently three-
branched ; and the
subcosta of the hind
wings does not make
a sharp bend into
the humeral angle
as it does in the
Geometridae (Fig.
323). In some
forms the basal part
of vein V is more or
less distinctly pre¬
served ; and in some
an accessory cell is
present.

The larvae feed
Our most common
species live exposed ; but some species live in folded
leaves. They are either naked or thinly clothed with
hairs. Many species have only four well-developed pro¬
legs, the anal pair being rudimentary, or transformed into
elongated spikes. Some species are hump-backed; and
spines or fleshy tubercles are often present. The trans¬
formations occur in slight cocoons or in the ground.

The family is a large one, more than one hundred species
occurring in the United States. The following are some of
the more common species: —

The Handmaid Moths, Datana (Da-ta'na). — Among the
more common representatives of the Notodontidae are cer¬
tain brown moths that have the fore wings crossed with
bars of a different shade (Fig. 312) and that bear on the

Fig. 311. — Wings of Notodonta stragula.

upon the leaves of shrubs and trees.

LEPIDOP TER A .

265

fore part of the thorax a conspicuous patch of darker color.
In most of our species the fore wings are also marked with a
dot near the center of the discal
cell and a bar on the discal vein.

These moths belong to the genus
D at ana. The common name,

Handmaid, is a translation of the
specific name of our most com¬
mon species, D. ministra (D.
mi-nis'tra). But as this species
is now generally known as the Yellow-necked Apple-tree
Worm, and as all of our species are dressed in sober at¬
tire as becomes modest servants, we have applied the term
Handmaid Moths to the entire genus.

The larvae of the Handmaid Moths are easily recognized
by their peculiar habits. They are common on various fruit
and forest trees, but especially on apple, oak, and hickory.
They feed in colonies ; and have the habit of assuming the

Fig. 313. — Datanay larva.

curious attitude shown in Figure 313. The body is black or
reddish, marked with lines or stripes of yellow or white.
Owing to the gregarious habits of these larvae they can be
easily collected from the' trees they infest.

All of the species that we have studied agree in being
single-brooded, the moths appearing in midsummer; the

200 THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

eggs are laid in a cluster on a leaf; the larvae are con¬
spicuous in August and September. In some of the species
the larvae have the curious habit of leaving the branch upon
which they are feeding when the time to molt arrives, the
whole colony gathering in a large mass on the trunk of the
tree, where the molt takes place. The pupa state is passed
in the ground, in a very light cocoon or in none at all, and
lasts about nine months in the species that we have bred.

The White-tipped Moth, Edema albifrons (E-de'ma
al'bi-frons). — This beautiful moth, which is quite common,
can be easily recognized by the accompanying figure (Fig.

314); the white patch, which
extends along the costa of the
fore wing for half the length
from the tip, being very char¬
acteristic. The larva (Fig. 3 1 5)
is quite common in the autumn

Fig. 314 .—Edema albifrons . Qn leaves of Oak. It is smooth

and shining, with no hairs; along each side of the back
there is a yellow stripe, and between these, on the back,
fine black lines on a pale lilac ground ; on each side below the
yellow stripe there are three black lines, the lowest one just
above the spiracles. The head is orange-red ; and there is
an orange-red hump on the eighth abdominal segment.

Fig. 315 .—EtUnta albifrons , larva.

The Two-lined Prominent, Seirodonta bilineata (Seir-o-
don'ta bi-lin-e-a'ta). — The larva of this species (Fig. 316) is
much more apt to be observed than the adult. It is com¬
mon in the latter part of the summer and in early autumn,

LEPIDOPTERA.

267

Fig. 31 6.—Se£rodonta bilineata ,
larva.

feeding on the leaves of oak, elm, and basswood. It

measures when full grown about one
and one half inches in length. Its
ground-color is usually green, but
sometimes claret-red. There is a
pale yellow stripe along the middle of the back, and on each
side a stripe of the same color. The course of these side
stripes is very characteristic ; passing back from the head,
they converge on the prothorax ; on the mesothorax and
metathorax they are separated from the dorsal line only by
a narrow band of red or purple; on the first abdominal seg¬
ment they diverge to the lateral margin of the back, but
converge again on the seventh and eighth abdominal seg¬
ments. This yellow subdorsal line is bordered without by
a milk-white stripe; and extending from this stripe over the
side of the body there is a whitish shade which fades out
below. The moth is ash-colored, with the fore wings crossed
by two wavy lines between which the wing is darker ; be¬
tween the outer wavy line and the outer margin of the wing
there is a faint band.

The Red-humped Apple -worm, CEdemasia concinna
(CEd-e-ma'si-a con-cin'na). — The larva of this species (Fig.
317) is common on apple and allied plants. The head is coral-

Fig. 317. — CEdemasia concinna , larva.

red, and there is a hump of the same color on the back of the
first abdominal segment ; the body is striped with slender
black, yellow, and white lines, and has two rows of black

268

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

spines along the back, and other shorter ones upon the sides.
When not eating, the larvae remain close together, some¬
times completely covering the branch upon which they rest.
This species passes the winter in the pupa state. The adults
appear in June and July.

The Mocha-stone Moths, Ichthyura (Ich-thy-u'ra). — To
the genus Ichthyura belong several species of brownish-gray
moths, whose fore wings are crossed by irregular whitish
lines. It was these peculiar markings, resembling somewhat
those of a moss-agate, that suggested the popular name
given above. The larvae feed on poplar and willow, and
conceal themselves within nests made by fastening leaves
together. Our most common species is the following: —

The Poplar Mocha-stone Moth, Ichthyura inclusa (I. in-
clu'sa). — The adult (Fig. 318) is a brownish-gray moth, with
the fore wings crossed by three irregu¬
lar whitish lines. The basal line is
broken near the middle of the wing;
and the intermediate one forms an im
verted Y, the main stem of which joins
Fig. 318. ichthyura inclusa. the third line near the inner margin of
the wing, making with it a prominent V. These lines are
bordered without by rust-red ; there is a chocolate-colored
spot near the apex of the fore wings, and an irregular row
of blackish dots near the outer margin. The hairs of the
thorax form a prominent crest, the fore side of which is a
rich dark brown. The hind wings are crossed by a wavy
band, which is light without and dark within.

The eggs are nearly spherical and smooth ; they are
deposited in a cluster a single layer deep on a leaf (Fig.
319). When the larvae hatch they make a nest either by
fastening several leaves together or, as is the case when
they infest poplar, by folding the two halves of a single leaf
together; frequently in the latter case the tip of the leaf is
folded in as shown in the figure. Within this nest the entire
colony lives, feeding on the parenchyma, and causing the

LEPIDOPTE *?A.

269

leaf to turn brown. Later other leaves are added to this
nest or additional nests are made among adjoining leaves.
All of these infested leaves are securely fastened to the twig
by bands of silk. When the larvae become large they leave
their nests at night to feed upon other leaves. These they
entirely consume excepting the petioles, midribs, and larger

4 ^

Fig. 319.— Eggs, larva, and nest of Ichthyura inclusa .

veins. We have seen on poplar a nest composed of only
three leaves which contained one hundred and twenty-five
half-grown larvae ; all of the leaves, about thirty in number,
arising from the end of the branch bearing this nest had
been consumed.

The full-grown larva measures one and one half inches
in length. It is striped with pale yellow and brownish
black, and bears a pair of black tubercles close together on
the first abdominal segment, and a similar pair on the eighth
abdominal segment. The cocoon is an irregular thin web ;
it is made under leaves or other rubbish on the ground.
The insect remains in the pupa state during the winter, and
emerges as a moth in the latter part of June or later. In
the South this species

infests willow as well
as poplar, and is
double-brooded.

Among the most
grotesque of larvae be¬

longing to this family are those of the genus Ccelodcisys

270

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Fig. 321. — A Measuring-worm.

(Coe-lod'a-sys), of which we have several species. One of
these is represented by Figure 320. At the left in the figure
is shown a front view of the longest tubercle.

Superfamily GEOMETRINA (Ge-o-me-tri'na).

The Geometrids ( Ge-om ’e-trids) , or the Measuring-worms.

The peculiar way in which the larvae of Geometrids
walk attracts general attention, and has won for them

the name of Measuring-worms
(Fig. 321). As children we had
the dislike for “worms’' that is
common to people that are un¬
educated to the beauties of na¬
ture. All larvae were “ worms
and we never thought of admir¬
ing their beautiful colors, or of
watching them build interesting houses, or of keeping them
till they spun their silken cocoons. But the measuring-
worms were excepted from this dislike. We always found
these delicate, greenish or yellowish caterpillars with their
looping motion vastly interesting. We allowed them to
measure our fingers with their little tickling feet, and we
counted each length as a yard. We were always delighted
with the way they had of standing on their hind legs, rear¬
ing the body up into the air, and moving the head around,
as if looking at the scenery. And then, if one became
frightened in any way, it would drop suddenly, suspended
by a silken cord, which it seemed to have mysteriously con¬
cealed in its mouth; and down it would go, doubling and
whirling around and around frantically until it reached the
ground.

Sometimes we found these fellows on branches of trees,
clinging by their hind legs, standing out straight, stiff, and
motionless, and appearing like twigs of the tree. We had
not heard then of protective resemblances, and did not
know that the assuming of this strange attitude protected

LEPIDOPTERA.

271

these worms from the sharp-eyed birds. If so, we should
have been still more interested in them ; and we should have
been even more so could some one have told us of the
transformation of these loopers first into pupae and then
into beautiful moths. But in those days comparatively few
people thought it worth while to study insects.

The larvae of Geometrids have as a rule only the last two
pairs of prolegs well developed ; and hence, as the middle
part of the body is not supported, they are unable to walk in
the way that other caterpillars walk. It is probable, however,
that the loss of the first three pairs of prolegs is the result of the
looping gait rather than the cause of it. That is to say, the
ancient Geometrid lar¬
vae acquired the habit
of looping, after which
the prolegs under the
middle of the body,
being unnecessary and
not used, dwindled
away in succeeding
generations. In the
case of a few members
of this family three or
even four pairs of pro¬
legs have been re¬
tained.

The Geometrid lar¬
vae are mostly leaf-eat¬
ing, and some species,
as the Canker-worms,
occur in such large
numbers as to be
serious pests.

The pupae are slender, and some species are green or
mottled in color in this state. The pupa state is passed in a
very flimsy cocoon or in a cell in the ground.

Fig. 322. — Wings of Caripeta angustiorata .

272

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The moths are of medium size, sometimes small, but only
rarely very large. Usually the body is slender, and the
wings broad and delicate in appearance. This appearance is
due to the fineness of the scales with which the wings are
clothed. These moths occur on the borders of woods and in
forests, rarely in meadows and pastures. Their flight is
neither strong nor long sustained. When at rest the wings
are spread horizontally and scarcely overlap each other.

The distinguishing features in the venation of the wings
of the Geometrina are that vein Va of the fore wings is not
a more closely joined to cubitus than to radius,

1 cubitus being apparently three-branched, and
that the basal part of vein II of the hind
wings makes a prominent bend into the hu-
Pangiro3fIinS w"g meral angle of the wing (Figs. 322, 323)*
of EuduU . Except in the more specialized forms where

it has disappeared there is a rudiment of vein I of the
hind wings. This usually extends from near the base of the
frenulum to the angle in vein II (Figs. 322, 324). In Eudule
(Fig. 323) and allied forms the rudiment of vein I lies some
distance from the margin of the wing.

There occur in our fauna representatives of five families;
these can be separated by the following table : —

A. Vein Va of the hind wings wanting, being represented merely by a
fold in the wing (Fig. 327). p. 277. Ennomida.

A A. Vein Va of the hind wings present.

B. Vein Va of the hind wings arising much nearer to vein Vi than
to vein Vj (Fig. 343). Wings usually green, p. 287.

Geometrid^e.

BB. Vein Va of the hind wings arising nearly midway between
veins Vi and Vs or nearer to vein Vs than to vein Vi. Wings
rarely green.

* In the more specialized forms the humeral angle is greatly expanded
(Fig. 343), and in some the frenulum is completely supplanted by it (Fig. 335)
The loss of the frenulum in this family, however, occurs only in highly spe*
cialized forms ; while in that series of families that we have called the Fren¬
ulum-losers it has occurred in all except a very few extiemely generalized
forms.

LEPIDOPTERA.

273

C. Veins II and III of hind wings extending distinctly separate
from each other, except that they are connected by a cross
vein near the middle of the discal cell (Fig. 335). p. 282.

HYDRIOMENIDiE.

CC. Veins II and III of hind wings approximated or coalesced
lor a greater or less distance.

D. Veins II and III of the hind wings closely approximated
but not coalesced along the second fourth (more or less) of
the discal cell.

E. Veins III and Vi of hind wings separating at or before the
apex of the discal cell (Fig. 327). p. 277. Ennomid^e.
EE. Veins III and Vi of hind wings coalesced for a consider¬
able distance beyond the apex of the discal cell (Fig. 324).
p. 273. Monocteniid^e.

DD. Veins II and III of hind wings coalesced for a greater or
less distance.

E. Veins II and III of the hind wings coalesced for a short
distance near the beginning of the second fourth of the
discal cell, thence rapidly diverging (Fig. 341). p. 286.

STERRHIDiE.

EE. Veins II and III of the hind wings coalesced to or be¬
yond the middle of the discal cell (Fig. 334).

F. Fore wings with one or two accessory cells, p. 282.

HYDRIOMENIDiE.

FF. Fore wings without an accessory cell ( Alsophila ).
p. 273. MONOCTENIIDiE.

Family MONOCTENIID^E (Mo-noc-te-ni'i-dae).

The Monocteniids (Mon-oc-te'ni-ids).

This family includes only a small number of North
American species ; but among them are those that are the
most important to us from an economic standpoint of all the
Geometrids.

The family is also of especial interest from a scientific
point of view ; for to it belong the most primitive forms of
the Geometrina, certain genera, found in Australia, being
closely allied to the Notodontidae, according to the observa¬
tions of Mr. Me}'rick.

19

^74 THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

In the typical forms, vein Va of the hind wings is present,
and veins II and III of the hind wings are closely approxi¬
mate, but do not co¬
alesce along the second
fourth of the discal cell
(Fig. 324). In many gen¬
era veins III and V, of
the hind wings coalesce
beyond the apex of the
discal cell (Fig. 324).
This character is of use
in distinguishing certain
members of this family
from those of the En-
nomidae that retain vein
V4 of the hind wings.
In that family a similar
coalescence of veins III
and V, does not take
place till after the loss
of vein Va. In one of
our genera veins II and III of the hind wings coalesce
along the second fourth of the discal cell, as they do in the
Hydriomenidae ; but the absence of an accessory cell in the
fore wings at once distinguishes this genus from the Hydri-
omenids. The following species arc our best known repre¬
sentatives of the family.

The Firstborn Geometer, Brephos infans (Bre'phos in'-
fans). — This interesting species has
been found only in the northeastern
part of our country; its range is from
Labrador to New York. It is a
blackish-brown moth with the fore
wings marked with pinkish white and

. 1 1 . , . ... .... Fig. 325. — Brephos infans, male.

the hind wings with reddish orange

(Fig. 325). The specimen figured is a male. In the female

1H3+4

Fig. 324. — Wings of Brephos in/am

LEPIDOP TER A.

275

the black border on the outer margin of the hind wings is
narrower, and the subterminal light band on the fore wings
is more distinctly marked. The early stages of this species
are unknown; but the larvae of European species feed upon
birch and poplar. With these the prolegs are all present ;
but the first three pairs are stunted. As this is probably the
most primitive Geometer occurring in our fauna, we suggest
the popular name Firstborn for it. In Germany an allied
species is known as the Jungfernkind.

Canker-worms . — In many parts of our country Canker-
worms are extremely abundant. In such localities they are
among the more important of insect pests, often completely
stripping the foliage from fruit and shade trees. There are
two distinct species of Canker-worms; but they resemble
each other so closely that they were long confounded; and
to this day they are distinguished only by entomologists.
The two species agree in being loopers or measuring-worms
in the larval state, in the possession of ample wings by the
adult male, and in the adult female being wingless. They
differ in structural characters, as indicated below, and also to
a certain extent in habits. In one species the greater num¬
ber of moths mature in the autumn and emerge from the
ground at this season ; in the other species the insects re¬
main in the pupa state during the winter, emerging as moths
in the spring. The two species are therefore appropriately
designated as the Fall Canker-worm and the Spring Canker-
worm respectively.

The Spring Canker-worm, Paleacrita vernata (Pal-e-ac'ri-ta
ver-na'ta). — The eggs are ovoid in shape, and are secreted in
irregular masses, usually under loose scales of bark or be¬
tween the leaflets of the expanding buds. The larvae hatch
about the time the leaves expand, and become full grown in
from three to four weeks. They vary greatly in color, and
are marked on the back with eight narrow, pale, longitudinal
lines which are barely discernible ; the two lateral lines of each
side are much farther apart than the others ; and there are

-^;6 the study of insects .

no prolegs on the fifth abdominal segment. The pupa state
is passed below the surface of the ground in a simple earthen
cell, which is lined with very few silken threads. The adult
moths usually emerge early in the spring before the leaves
expand ; but they sometimes appear late in the fall, or on
warm days during the winter when the ground is thawed.
In both sexes the adult of this species is distinguished by
the presence of two transverse rows of stiff reddish spines,
pointing backwards, on each of the first seven abdominal seg¬
ments. In the male the venation of the wings very closely
resembles that of Bi'ephos (Fig. 324); veins II and III of the
hind wings although closely approximate do not coalesce,
and veins III and V, coalesce for a considerable distance be¬
yond the apex of the discal cell.

The Fall Canker-worm, Alsophila pometana (Al-soph'i-la
pom-e-ta'ri-a). — The eggs appear as if cut off at the top, and
have a central puncture and a brown circle near the border
of the disk. They are laid side by side in regular rows and
compact batches, and are generally exposed. They hatch
in the spring at the time the leaves appear; and the larvae
mature in about three weeks. The larva is of a pale brown¬
ish color marked with dark brown and yellow ; the body is
marked on the back with six broad and very distinct pale
lines, those of each side equidistant; and there is a pair of
distinct prolegs on the fifth abdominal segment. As in the
preceding species the pupa state is passed beneath the
ground, but this species makes a perfect cocoon of fine

densely spun silk. The adult moth
usually emerges in the fall, generally
beginning about the middle or latter
part of October; although a con¬
siderable number come out of the
earth in the winter during warm
weather and in the spring. The
moths of both sexes lack the ab¬
dominal spines characteristic of the Spring Canker-worm.

LEPIDOPTERA .

277

The male is represented by Figure 326. In this species
veins II and III of the hind wings coalesce for a considerable
distance along the second fourth of the discal cell; and veins
III and V, of the hind wings separate at the apex of the dis¬
cal cell.

The two species of Canker-worms are sufficiently alike
in habits to warrant our combating them by similar methods.
The fact that in each the female is wingless and is thus
forced to climb up the trunks of trees in order to place her
eggs in a suitable place has suggested the method of defence
that has been most generally used in the past. This is to
place something about the trunks of the trees which will
make it impossible for the wingless female to ascend them.
Some viscid substance, as tar, printers’ ink, or melted rubber,
either painted on the trunk of the tree or upon a paper band
which is tacked closely about the tree, is the means usually
adopted. Many other devices have been recommended.
In the use of this method of prevention, operations should
be begun in the autumn, even when it is the Spring Canker-
worm that is to be combated. For in this species some of
the moths emerge in the fall or during the winter.

Although the method just described is still the most avail¬
able one when tall shade-trees are to be protected, it is now
rarely used in orchards. Here the spraying of the trees with
Paris-green water soon after the leaves appear is found
more practicable. This method has also the advantage of
enabling the fruit-grower to reach other important pests, as
the Codlin-moth, at the same time.

Family Ennomid^E (En-nom'i-dae).

The Ennomids (En'no-mids).

Nearly all of the members of this family can be easily
recognized as such by the fact that vein V2 of the hind wings
is wanting, being represented merely by a fold. In a few
species this vein has been preserved ; these can be recog-

278 THE STUD Y OF INSECTS .

nized by the following combination of characters : Vein V9
of the hind wings does not arise much nearer to vein V,

than to vein V3 (as it
does in the Geomet-
ridae), veins II and III
of the hind wings are
closely approximate
but do not coalesce along
the second fourth,
more or less, of the
discal cell (Fig. 327),
and veins III and V,
of the hind wings do
not coalesce beyond
the apex of the discal
cell. This last char¬
acter does not apply
to the family as a
whole, but merely to
those that retain vein
V3 of the hind wings;
in some of those in
which this vein is lost, the coalescence of veins III and V,
is carried beyond the apex of the cell.

This is by far the largest of the families of the Geome-
trina and contains the greater number of our larger species.
The following will serve as
illustrations of it : —

The Notched-wing Ge¬
ometer, E?iiiomos magnarius
(En'no-mos mag-na'ri-us), is
one of the largest of our
Geometrids. The larva is
a common looper upon

A L ciG. 328. — Etinomos magnartus.

maple, chestnut, and birch

trees, and measures about two and one third inches in length

Fig. 327. — Wings of Caripeta angustiorata.

LEPIDOPTERA.

279

when full grown. It spins a rather dense, spindle-shaped
cocoon within a cluster of leaves. The moth (Fig. 328) is
ochre-yellow with a reddish tinge. The wings are shaded
towards the outer margin with brown, and are thickly spotted
with small brown dots.

The Currant Span-worm, Diasticiis ribearia (Di-as-tic'tis
rib-e-a'ri-a). — There are several species of insects that are
popularly known as currant-
worms. The most common
of these are larvae of saw-
flies, which can be easily
recognized by the large
number of prolegs with
which the abdomen is fur¬
nished. In addition to the
saw-flies there is a yellow
looper spotted with black, which often appears in such great
numbers on currant and gooseberry bushes as to suddenly
strip them of their foliage. This larva has been named the
Currant or Gooseberry Span-worm. When full grown it
measures about one inch in length, and is of a bright yellow
color, with white lines on the sides and with numerous black
spots and round dots. It has only four prolegs. There is
only a single brood; the larva matures in May or June; the
pupa state lasts about a fortnight ; the moth flies during the
summer months and oviposits on the twigs of the plants ;

and the eggs remain un¬
hatched till the following
spring. The moth (Fig.
329) is pale yellow, with
the wings marked by ir¬
regular dusky spots, which
sometimes form one or two
indefinite bands across them.
The Chain-dotted Geom¬
eter, Cingilia catenaria (Cin-gil'i-a cat-e-na'ri-a). — This moth

Fig. 330. — Cingilia catenaria.

Fig. 329. — Diasticiis ribearia.

2 SO

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

has snow-white wings marked with zigzag lines and with
dots of black as shown in Fig. 330. The head is ochreous-
yellow in front ; and the thorax is yellowish at the base of
the patagia. The moth flies during September and October.
The larva feeds on various shrubs and trees. The pupa
state is passed in a slight but well-formed web of yellow
threads, which is formed between twigs or leaves, and
through which the pupa can be seen.

The Evergreen Cleora, Cleora setniclusaria (Cle'o-ra
sem-i-clu-sa'ri-a). — This beautiful moth (Fig. 331) is common

in the vicinity of pines, spruce,
fir, and hemlock during August
and September. It varies from
a smoky-ash color to almost
snow - white ; the wings are
marked with black. The larva
feeds on the leaves of Conifers.
It is reddish yellow above, with
lateral yellow bands below, while
on each side are two pairs of black hair-lines. There are
black spots above on the segments. When full grown it is
a little more than an inch long and spins a loose cocoon
among the leaves. The chrysalid is green with white
stripes and is very pretty.

The Pepper-and-salt Currant-moth, Biston cognataria
(Bis'ton cog - na - ta'ri - a). — This
moth (Fig. 332) differs remark¬
ably in appearance from most
Geometrids, the body being
stouter, and the wings appearing
heavier. It can be easily recog¬
nized by its evenly distributed
pepper-and-salt markings. The FlG* 332.— Biston cognatana.

larva feeds on various plants, but is found most often on
currant.

The Lime-tree Winter-moth, Erannis tiliaria (E-ran'nis

LEPIDOPTERA.

281

til-i-a'ri-a). — This species (Fig. 333) resembles the Canker-
worms in many particulars. The larva is a looper which
infests both fruit and forest trees; and in the adult state the
male has well-developed wings, while the female is wingless.

The eggs are oval, of a pale yellow color, and covered
with a network of raised lines. They are thrust by the

Fig. 333.— Erannts tiliaria. (From the Author’s Report for 1879.)

female under loose bark and in crevices on the trunk and
large limbs. They hatch in May, and the larvae attain their
full growth in the latter part of June. The larva is yellow,
marked with ten crinkled black lines along the top of the
back; the head is rust-colored, and the venter yellowish
white ; when full grown it measures about one and one fifth
inches in length. The pupa state is passed in the ground,
from three to six inches below the surface. The moths
issue in October, and then the wingless females ascend the

282

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

trees to oviposit as do the females of the Canker-worms.
The female is represented in the lower left-hand part of the
figure. She is grayish in color, with two black spots on the
back of each segment except the last, which has only one.
The male has buff fore wings, with a central spot and a band
beyond the middle, while the hind wings are much lighter.
This insect can be combated by the same methods as are
used against canker-worms.

Family HYDRIOMENIDS (Hyd-ri-o-men'i-das).

The Hydriomenids {Hyd-n-o-me’nids).

The Hydriomenids are easily recognized by the structure
of their wings. In the fore wings the branches of radius

LEPIDOPTEKA.

283

discal cell (Fig. 334). The only exception to these char¬
acters known to us is shown by certain genera (e.g., Heteroph-
leps and Dyspteris) in which, owing to a large expansion of
the costal area of the hind v/ings, veins II and III have
been pulled apart as it were, and are connected only by
a cross-vein near the middle of the discal cell (Fig. 335).
In a single genus ( Paleacritd ) not belonging to this family
veins II and III of the hind wings coalesce to the middle of
the discal cell ; but this genus lacks the accessory cell in the
fore wings characteristic of this family.

This family ranks second in size among the Geometrid
families, and contains many common species.

The White-striped Black, Euchceca albovittata (Eu-choe'ca
al-bo-vit-ta'ta). — This beautiful little moth, which occurs
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, is the most easily recog¬
nized member of the family. It expands about seven eighths
of an inch, and is of a uniform black color, with a single, very
broad white band extending across the fore wing from the
middle of the costa to the inner angle, where it is usually
forked. The fringe of the wings is white at the apical and
inner angles of both pairs ; sometimes the white is lacking
on the inner angle of the hind wings. The early stages of
this beautiful moth are unknown.

The Spear-marked Black, Pletnyria hastata (Ple-myr'i-a
has-ta'ta). — This is another black-and-white species, occur*
ring from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It is much larger than
the preceding, expanding one and four tenths inches. It is
black, striped and spotted with white. It varies greatly as
to the number and extent of the white markings. The
most constant mark is a broad white band crossing the
middle of the fore wings, and often continued across the
hind wings. Near the middle of its course on the fore
wing this band makes a sharp angle pointing outward ; and
just beyond the apex of this angle there is usually a white
spot. This spot and angular band together form a mark
shaped something like the head of a spear. In some sped-

284

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

mens the white predominates ; other specimens are almost
entirely black, excepting the spear-mark. According to Eu¬
ropean authorities the larva is brown or blackish brown, with
a darker line along the middle of the back, and a row of horse-
shoe-shaped spots on the sides. It feeds on birch and sweet
gale. It is gregarious, a colony of larvae spinning together
the leaves of the food-plant, and thus forming a nest within
which they live and feed. The
larva has not yet been observed
in this country.

The Scallop - shell Moth,

Calocalpe undulata (Cal-o-cal'pe
un-du-la'ta). — This is a pretty

Fig. 336. — Calocalpe undulata.

moth, with its yellow wings
crossed by so many fine, zigzag,
dark brown lines that it is hard
to tell which of the two is the
ground-color (Fig. 336). It
lays its eggs in a cluster on
a leaf near the tip of a twig
of cherry, usually wild cherry.

The larvae make a snug nest
by fastening together the leaves
at the end of the twig ; and
within this nest (Fig. 337) they
live, adding new leaves to the
outside as more food is needed.

The leaves die and become brown, and thus render the nest
conspicuous. The larvae are black above, with four white

Fig. 337. — Eggs and nest of Calocalpe
undulata.

LEPIDOP TERAa

285

stripes, and flesh-colored below. When full grown they
descend to the ground to transform, and pass the winter in
the pupa state.

The Diverse-line Moth, Eustroma diver silineata{ Eus-tro'-
ma di-ver-si-lin-e-a'ta). — This moth has pale ochre-yellow
wings, with a brownish shade near the outer margin, and
crossed by many diverging brown lines (Fig. 338). It varies
from one inch and a half to two inches in expanse. We
have often found this moth on the side of our room,
resting on the wall, head downward, and with its abdomen
hanging down over its head in a curious manner. The larva
feeds on the leaves of grape. There are two broods ; the
first brood infests the vines during June; the second, in the
autumn and early spring, wintering as larvae.

Fig. 338. — Eustroma diversilineata. Fig. 339. — Eudule mcndica .

The Beggar, Eudule mendica (Eu-du'le men-di'ca). — One
of the most delicate winged moths that we have in the
Northern Atlantic States is this species (Fig. 339). Although
the wings are yellowish white in color they are almost trans¬
parent. On the fore wings there are two transverse rows of
pale gray spots, and a single spot near the outer margin be¬
tween veins V3 and VII,. (This spot was indistinct in the
specimen figured.) The moth is common in midsummer.

We do not know what fancy led the naturalist that de¬
scribed this species to name it mendica . But it seems ap¬
propriate now to call it a mendicant; for during the thirty
years that have elapsed since the species was described it
has not been allowed a position in its own family, but has
been catalogued in the Lithosiidae, although it was shown
to be a Geometrid long ago.

286

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

The Bad-wing, Dyspteris abortivaria (Dys'pte-ris a-bor.
ti-va'ri-a). — It is easy to recognize this moth (Fig. 340) by

the peculiar shape of its wings, the
hind wings being greatly reduced in
size. It is of a beautiful pea-green
color, with two white bands on the
fore wings and one on the hind
wings. Its color has led to its being
placed heretofore in the Geometridae ;
but the structure of its wings shows
it to be an Hydriomenid. The larva feeds on the leaves of
grape, which it rolls.

Family STERRHID^E (Ster'rhi-dae).

The Sterrhids ( Ster'rJiids ).

The members of this family are most easily recognized
by the venation of the
hind wings (Fig. 341). In
these veins II and III co¬
alesce for a short distance
near the beginning of the
second fourth of the dis-
cal cell and then diverge
rapidly. The greater
number of our common
species are of medium
size, with whitish wings
crossed by from two to
four indistinct lines, and
with the head black in
front ; some are pure
white, and others are
brown marked with red¬
dish lines. About one
hundred species have
beenfound in this country.

Fig. 340. — Dyspteris abortivaria .

LEPIDOPTERA .

287

Fig. 342. — Hamatopis
grataria.

The Chickweed Geometer, Hamatopis grataria (Hae-
mat'o-pis gra-ta'ri-a). — This little moth
(Fig. 342) is very common in our meadows
and gardens during the summer and au¬
tumn months. Its wings are reddish
yellow, with the fringes and two trans¬
verse bands pink. It is found from Maine
to Texas. The larva feeds on the common chick-weed,
Stellaria media*

Family GEOMETRID^E (Ge-o-met'ri-dse).

The Green Geometrids (Ge-om'e-trids).

As a rule the members of this family are bright green in

color. And as we have
but one other common
Geometrid ( Dyspteris , p.
286) of this color, the
family may be well termed
the Green Geometrids.
vn, The distinctive structure
that characterizes this
family is the fact that
vein Va of the hind wings
arises much nearer to
vein V, than to vein V3
(Fig. 343). In this family
the tendency to expan¬
sion of the humeral angle
of the hind wings, which
is exhibited by all Geo-
metrina, and which is cor¬
related with the promi¬
nent bend into this angle
of vein II, characteristic
of this super-family, is

* This moth is figured and mentioned here because it is one of our
most common species, and not as a typical illustration of the Sterrhidae. It

Fig. 343. — Wings of Geometrn iridaria.

288

TI1E STUDY OF INSECTS.

carried farther than in the other families (except in the
Dyspteris division of the Hydriomenidae). In fact, in all
of the forms known to the writer, the humeral angle ex¬
tends a considerable distance beyond the frenulum. In
the fore wings there is also a more marked migration of
the base of vein Va towards radius than occurs in other
Geometrid families. All these characteristics lead us to
consider the Geometridae the most specialized of the Geom-
etrina.

The Raspberry Geometer, SyncJilora glaucaria (Syn-
chlo'ra glau-ca'ri-a). — The different species of green Geom-
etrids resemble each other to such an extent that it is
difficult to describe any one of them in a few words so that
it can be surely distinguished. The wings of the Raspberry
Geometer are of a delicate pale green color crossed by two
lines of a lighter shade, and when expanded measure from
one half inch to one inch, there being great variation in size
of specimens. The larva is more easily distinguished on
account of its curious habits. It feeds on the fruit and
foliage of raspberry, but chiefly on the fruit. It covers its
body by attaching to it bits of vegetable matter, so that it is
masked beneath a tiny heap of rubbish.

Family Auzatid^ (Au-zat'i-dae).

The Auzatids (An-za! tids).

Only a single species belonging to this family is known
to occur in this country. This is a small moth with delicate
snow-white wings which expand from three fourths of an
inch to one inch. This is Eudeilinca Jierminiata (Eu-dei-
lin'e-a her-min-i-a'ta).

In the form of the body and in the structure of the wings
(Fig. 344) the members of this family closely resemble the

differs in important respects from the typical members of the family, and
may belong elsewhere.

LEPIDOPTERA.

289

Drepanidse. As in the Drepanidre vein VII appears to be
four-branched, and the
course of vein II of the
hind wings is similar in
the two families, except
that in the Auzatidae this
vein anastomoses with
vein III beyond the discal
cell ; but the extent of
this anastomosis varies
greatly in different indi¬
viduals of our species.

In the Auzatidae the
apex of the fore wings
is not sickle-shaped ; and
the branches of radius of
the fore wings coalesce
as in the Geometridae,

Veins 1 1 13 and 1 1 1 4 coal- Fig. 344. — Wings of Eudeilinea ktrminiata.

escing to near the apex of the wing.*

Family Drepaniixe (Dre-pan'i-dae).

The Hook-tip Moths .

The members of this family are small, slender-bodied
moths, which can be easily recognized by the sickle-shaped
apex of the front wings (Fig. 345). An
approach to this form of wing is pre¬
sented by some species of the Satur-
niidae and by certain Geometrids. But
the former are large, stout-bodied moths ;
Fig. 345. — piatypteryx arcu- and the latter differ in wing venation,
cubitus of the fore wings appearing only

* In the Drepanidse veins IlU-j-s and Ilb-M do not coalesce from the
apex of the discal cell outward (Figs. 346 and 347); but veins 1 1 13 and II I4
anastomose for a greater or less distance near the apex of the wing, thus
forming an accessory cell.

20

290

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

three-branched with them, whereas it appears four-branched
in the Drepanidse (Fig. 346).

Although the humeral angle of the hind wings is greatly
developed in these moths, some of them retain the frenulum.

Fig. 346. — Wings of Oreta rosea. Fig. 347. — Wings of Platypteryx arcuata

When the frenulum is present it is borne at the end of a
long thickened portion of the wing, so that it is at a con¬
siderable distance from the point where the wing is attached
to the body (Fig. 347)-*

The larvae are remarkable in having the anal prolegs
rudimentary, and the caudal segment prolonged into a more

* We class the Drepanidse among the Frenulum-conscrvers, although
many of them hpw* lost the fienulum. Among the true Frenulum-losers the
loss of the frenulum occurs while the race is still in a very generalized con¬
dition, no trace of a frenulum being found among these insects except a rudi¬
ment in the most generalized forms ( Bombyx , Cicinnus). In the Drepanidae,
however, the frenulum is retained by very highly specialized forms. There is
a striking similarity in this respect between this family and the more
specialized Geometnds.

LEPIDOPTERA .

29I

or less lizard-like tail. They live upon the foliage of shrubs
and trees, and transform in a web between the leaves, or
in a case in a rolled leaf.

Only a small number of species occur in our fauna ; at
present we know only eight ; and all but one of these pertain
to the eastern half of the continent.

Our most common Hook-tip Moth is Platypteryx arcu-
ata (Pla-typ'te-ryx ar-cu-a'ta). This species is of a dirty
white color marked with dark brownish lines and bands as
shown in Figure 345. Its larva feeds upon white birch. Pla -
typteryx genicula (P. ge-nic'u-la), another eastern species, re¬
sembles the preceding, but differs in being of a light ochre-
yellow color and in the course of the wavy lines on the front
wings. A third similar species occurs in California; this is
Platypteryx simlifera (P. sic-u-lif'e-ra).

Family CYMATOPHORID^E (Cym-a-to-phor'i-dae).

The Cymatophorids ( Cym-a-toph' o-rids) .

The Cymatophoridae include moths of medium size,
with elongated wings. The front wings are usually slightly
widened at the inner angle (Fig. 348), and in our more
common species are conspicuously
marked with wavy or zigzag lines.

The antennae are filiform and more
or less velvety or pubescent in the
male, and the maxillae are well
developed. The moths fly by day,
and when at rest fold their wings
roof-like upon the abdomen.

The venation of the wings is illustrated by Figure 349.
The important features to be noted are the following: In
the front wing vein V3 arises midway between veins V, and
V3 ; while in the hind wing vein V2 arises much nearer to V,
than to V,. In the hind wing the subcosta and radius are
distinct, and vein V, is joined to radius by a comparatively

Fig. 348. — Thyatira scripta .

292

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

long cross-vein (Fig. 349, c. v.)t so that the two appear to
separate before the end of the discal cell. In the males the
tip of the frenulum is knobbed.

The larvae are naked, and live upon the leaves of shrubs

and trees. They often con-
ceal themselves in a case, made
by loosely fastening together
leaves, or by folding a single
leaf.

There are in our fauna rep¬
resentatives of only four or
five genera belonging to this
family; and the species that
are common hardly exceed
this number.

One of the more common
species is Thyatira scripta
(Thy-a-ti'ra scrip'ta). This

Fig. 349. — Win^sof Thyatira scripta. has faWn-COlorcd front WlUgS,

conspicuously marked with light bands and zigzag lines
(Fig. 348). According to Thaxter, it lays its eggs late in
July, in chains of five or six, on the leaves of raspberry, upon
which the larvae feed. The mature larva is rich yellow-
brown, often almost black, with a distinct dorsal black line.
The lateral portions are more yellow with blackish mottlings.
When at rest the larva either elevates the cephalic and caudal
ends of the body, like the Notodontids, so that the head
rests upon the caudal segments, or conceals itself in a case
formed by curling down the edge of a leaf. It makes a very
slight cocoon late in August.

Another common species is Pseudothyatira cyniatopho -
roides (Pseu-do-thy-a-ti'ra cym-a-toph-o-roi'des). This spe¬
cies is slightly larger than the preceding one, expanding
nearly two inches. The front wings are silky gray tinted
with rose. They are marked with a black spot at the base,
a double or triple line, forming a black band at the end of

LEPIDOPTERA.

293

the basal third of the wing, two black spots on the outer
half of the costa, a black spot at the inner angle, and a row
of black points on the outer margin. There is a variety
which lacks the black band and the four black spots. The
larva of this species has been found on red oak ; it is of a
rich yellow-brown, mottled with fine dark lines, and lives in
a case made by fastening leaves together. It makes a slight
cocoon late in September; the adult emerges in June.

Family NOCTUID^: (Noc-tu'i-dae).

The Owlet-moths or Noctuids (Nocftu-ids).

This is the largest of all of the families of the Lepido^-
tera ; more than eighteen hundred species are now known to
occur in America north of Mexico. The great majority of
the moths that fly into our houses at night, attracted by
lights, are members of this family.

The nocturnal habits of these insects, and the fact that
often when they are in obscurity their eyes shine brightly,
have suggested the name of the typical genus ( Noctua , from
the Latin for owl), as well as the popular name Owlet-moths,
by which they are known. Similar popular names have
been given to them in several other languages.

Although there is almost no question regarding the lim¬
its of this family, as yet no structural character has been
found by which they can be distinguished from certain other
moths. Neither is there a general uniformity of appearance
which we can use for this purpose, as the family includes
great variations in size, form, and coloring. But most of the
species are dull-colored moths of medium size.

The greatest difficulty arises in attempting to separate
this family from the three following. Of these the first two
(Pericopidae and Agaristidae) differ in their highly contrast¬
ing colors, as pointed out in the analytical table (p. 212,
N and NN). In the third of these families (Lymantriidae)
the species have pectinate antennae and do not have ocelli.

294

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Only a few Noctuids have pectinate antennae, and these,
so far as they are known to the writer, lack ocelli.

The venation of the wings of a member of this family is

represented by Fig-

XI

IX

Fig. 350. — Wings of Agrotis ypsilon.

the other veins ; and there is considerable variation in the
point of origin of this vein.

In the typical Noctuids, the body is large in proportion
to the size of the wings; the front wings are strong, some¬
what narrow, and elongated, the outer margin being shorter
than the inner margin ; and when at rest, the wings are
folded upon the abdomen, giving the insect a triangular out¬
line. The antennae are thread-like, fringed with hairs, or
brush-like, rarely pectinate in the males. Two ocelli are al¬
most always present. The labial palpi are well developed,
and in some species quite prominent. The maxillae are
quite long and stout in most species. The thorax is heavy
and stout. In some species the scales on the dorsal surface
of the thorax are turned up more or less, forming tufts.

LEPIDOPTERA.

295

The abdomen is conical and extends beyond the inner angle
of the hind wings, when these are spread.

The majority of the larvae are naked, of dull colors, and
provided with five pairs of prolegs. As a rule they feed
on the leaves of plants, but some are borers and some gnaw
into fruits. Among them are some of the most important
insects injurious to agriculture.

Although the Noctuidae is a very large family, the efforts
that have been made to divide it into subfamilies have not
given satisfactory results. Many subfamilies have been in¬
dicated ; but in most cases these proposed subfamilies appear
to be merely groups of allied genera which cannot be dis¬
tinguished by any common character from the other similar
groups. In the following pages we have given illustrations
of a large proportion of these groups, in order to show, as
well as we can in a limited space, the variations in form in¬
cluded in this family. The sequence of groups adopted is
that given in the latest catalogue of the family, that by Pro¬
fessor J. B. Smith ; in some respects we doubt its being
natural.

There is a group of moths, the Deltoids, which are placed
at the foot of this family on account of their apparent re¬
lationship to the Geometrids and to the Pyralids. These
moths are usually of dull colors and of medium size. The
name Deltoids was suggested by the triangular outline of the
wings when at rest, which is well represented by the Greek
letter delta. When in this position the wings slope much
less than with other Noctuids, the attitude being more like
that assumed by the Geometrids ; but the hind wings are
more nearly covered than with the Geometrids. Many of
the Deltoids have very long palpi, resembling in their size
those of the Pyralids.

The Clover Hypena, Hypena scabra (Hy-pe'na sca'bra), is
a common Deltoid. The larva feeds on the leaves of clover,
and is a slender green worm. It measures when full grown
two-thirds inch in length and only about one-tenth inch in

296

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

width in its widest part ; it has a narrow subdorsal whitish
line and a lateral one of the same color. When ready to
transform it webs together several leaves and passes the pupa
state in the nest thus made. The adult (Fig. 35 1) is a blackish-

brown moth, with an irregular grayish
shade on the outer half of the fore
wings, and with very broad hind wings.
The palpi, which are not well shown in
Fig. 351 .—Hyjena scabra. the figure, are long, wide, and flat¬
tened ; they project horizontally like a snout.

The Hop-vine Hypena, Hypena /tumuli (H. hu'-mu-li),
is closely allied to the preceding and has often been con¬
founded with it. The larva feeds on the leaves of hop, and
is sometimes a serious pest.

One of the most abundant of our Deltoids is Pseu*
daglossa lubricalis (Pseu-da-glossa lu-
bri-ca'lis.) In this species (Fig. 352)
the fore wings are chocolate-brown,
crossed with yellowish lines ; the hind
wings are much lighter. The palpi
are long; but they are curved overFlG- lulrt

the head, so that they appear short when seen from above,
as represented in the figure. The larva feeds on grass.

Next to the Deltoids there is placed a group of moths
which may be called the Similar-winged Owlets, from the
fact that both pairs of wings are similarly marked by trans¬
verse lines. The group includes the largest of our Noctuids.

The two following species
will serve to illustrate this
group.

The Lunate Similar¬
wing, Homoptera lunata
(Ho-mop'-te-ra lu-na'ta.) —
This is a brownish moth

Fig. 353. — Homoptera lunata. witll marbled wingS. It

varies greatly in its markings. Figure 353 represents a

LEP1D0PTERA .

297

variety which has been named ednsa , and which does not
show well the lunate mark on the hind wings that probably
suggested the name of the species. The larva feeds on the
leaves of rose, willow, maple, plum, and other plants.

The Black Witch, Erebus odora (Er'e-bus o-do'ra). — The
most magnificent in size of our Noctuids is this species (Fig.
354). There is much variation in the depth of coloring.
The specimen figured is a female ; in the male the fore
wings are more pointed at the apex and the median band is

Fig. 354. — Erebus odora.

indistinct. It is a native of the West Indies, and is not
known to breed in the United States. But specimens are
found as far north as Canada and west to Colorado, and
even in California. It is believed that these specimens have
flown north from Cuba or from Mexico. Recently some
observations have been made which seem to indicate that
the moth does breed within our territory; but the question
is not yet settled. Only isolated specimens are found in
the North, and these in late summer or autumn.

298

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Closely allied to the moths just described is another group

of species with broad wings, of
which the Two-lined Parallelia,
Parallelia bistriaris (Par-al-lel'i-a
bi-stri'a-ris) is a good example.
This moth (Fig. 355) is brown¬
ish in color, and has the fore
Fig. 3S5 Parallelia but nans, wings crossed by two parallel

lines. The larva feeds on the leaves of maple.

The most striking in appearance of the Noctuids, if we
except the Black Witch and one or two allied species, are
the moths belonging to the genus Catocala (Ca-toc'a-la).
These moths are of large size, often expanding three inches
or more. The fore wings are usually brown or gray, marked
with wavy or zigzag lines. The ground-color of the hind
wings is black ; but in many species these wings are con¬
spicuously banded with red, yellow, or white. This pecu¬
liarity has suggested the name Underwings by which these

Fig. 356.— Catocala ilia .

insects are commonly known in England. The genus is a
very large one ; about eighty species are now known from
this country; and many of these are extremely variable,
so that about twice that number of named forms are now
recognized. The Ilia Underwing, Catocala ilia (C. il'i-a),
will serve as an example (Fig. 356). The larvae of the

LEP1D0PTERA .

299

Underwings feed on the leaves of various forest-trees.
Many species infest oak and hickory. By careful search
both the adults and larvae can be found resting on the
trunks of these trees ; but it needs sharp eyes to do it, as the
colors of these insects are usually protective.

Among;' the more common Noctuids that occur in our
meadows and pastures, and that fly up before us as we walk
through them, are -two species belonging to the genus Dr as-
teria (Dras-te'ri-a). These may be called the Clover Looping-
owlets ; for the larvae feed on the leaves of clover, and, as
they have only three pairs of prolegs, they walk in a loop¬
ing manner like the Geometrids.

One of these species is Drasteria
erechtea (D. e-rech'te-a). This
moth (Fig. 357) has dark or light
drab-gray fore wings, which are
marked by two large dark bands,
as shown in the figure. These
bands are always separate, dis- Fig. 357.— Drasteria erechtea.

tinct, and well defined towards the inner margin in the
male ; in the female the markings are much less dis¬
tinct.

The other common species of this genus is Drasteria cras-
siuscula (D. cras-si-us'cu-la). In this species the fore wings
have either a distinct violaceous brown or a red shade, with
the two large dark bands very variable, often shading
into the ground-color on the outer edge or coalescing near
the inner margin ; all the markings are equally distinct in
both sexes.

There is a group of Noctuids containing about a score
of genera in which the species differ markedly in appearance
from the majority of the members of the family. In this
group the moths are of small or moderate size ; and some
of them bear a strong resemblance to Tortricids. Many of
the species are marked with bright colors, and especially
with white. The two following species will serve to illus-

300

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

tratc this group. Chamyris cerintha (Cham'y-ris ce-rin'tha)
(Fig. 358) is white, with the fore wings
marked with shades of olive, brown, and
blue. The hind wings have a narrow
border of dark scales, within which
there may be a cloudy shade as shown
Fig. 358. — chawyris ce- in the figure, or this shade may be want-

nntha . J

ing. The larva feeds on the leaves of
apple. The second of our illustrations of this group is

Fig. 359. — Acontia
cande facta.

Acontia candefacta (A-con'ti-a can-de-fac'ta)

(Fig. 359)- This species is also largely white,
with the fore wings marked with shades of
olive, brown, and yellow. The amount of
yellow varies greatly in different specimens.

The larva feeds on the leaves of Ambrosia artanisice folia.

The Boll-worm, Heliothis armigera (He-li-o'this ar-mig'e-
ra). — This widely distributed pest is best known in its larval
state ; but the larva varies so greatly in color and markings
that it is difficult to prepare a description by which it can
be recognized. The senior author has published colored
figures of this insect, including five varieties of the larva, in
his Report on Cotton-insects and also in the Report of the
U. S. Department of Agriculture for 1879, Plate VIII. The
larva when full grown measures about one and one half
inches in length. It is often found feeding on the tips of
ears of growing corn. It also frequently infests tomatoes, eat¬
ing both the ripe and the green fruit. Occasionally it is found
within the pods of peas and of beans eating the immature
seeds. But the most serious of its injuries is to cotton.
The larva bores into the pods or bolls of the cotton, destroy¬
ing them. The injury thus done to the cotton crop is
second in importance only to that done by the Cotton-worm,
which destroys the foliage of the plant. Much can be done
to check the injury of the Boll-worm to cotton by planting
rows of corn in the cotton-field, and collecting the larvae of
the early broods from the ears of corn, thus reducing the

LEPIDOPTERA.

301

Fig. 360. — Plusia simplex.

number of individuals in the later broods which infest the
cotton.

The genus Plusia (Plu'si-a) includes a large number of
species in which the fore wings are
marked with metallic-colored scales.

The most common form of this
marking is a silvery spot shaped
something like a comma near the
centre of the wing. Plusia simplex
(Fig. 360) is a well-known illustra¬
tion of this genus. About sixty species of this genus have
been described from North America. In some of the
species the metallic markings cover a large proportion of
the fore wings, and in others they are wanting. The larva
of Plusia brassicce (P. bras'si-cae) feeds on cabbage and other
Crucifer ce.

In the cotton-growing States the most important insect
pest is the Cotton-worm, Aletia argillacea (A-le'ti-a ar-gil-la'-
ce-a). The adult of this insect (Fig. 361) is a brownish

moth with its fore wings crossed
with wavy lines of darker color and
marked with a bluish discal spot
and two white dots as shown in the
figure. This moth is found in the
Northern States and even in
Canada in the latter part of the
summer and in the autumn. But this occurrence in the
North is due to migrations from the South, as the insect can¬
not survive the winter north of the Gulf States. The larva
feeds on the foliage of cotton ; and as there are five or six
generations in a year, the multiplication of individuals is
very rapid, and the injury to the cotton great. Detailed
descriptions and colored figures of this insect in its different
stages are given in the works cited above in the description
of the Boll-worm. The best known way of combating this
pest is by the use of Paris green.

Fig. 361. — Aletia argillacea.

302

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

The Hooded Owlets, Cucullia (Cu-cul'li-a). — We have
several common grayish moths, in which the fore wings are
marked with numerous irregular dashes of dark color, and

in which the thorax is furnished
with a prominent tuft of scales.
These moths belong to the genus
Cucullia . Figure 362 represents
Cucullia spcyeri (C. spey'er-i).
These insects evidently have
Fig 362 . — Cucullia sfitytri. the power of moving this tuft
of scales ; for sometimes it projects forward over the head as
shown in the figure, while in other specimens of the same
species it will be directed backward ; in this case it is much
less conspicuous. The larvae of the Hooded Owlets feed
upon the leaves of goldenrod and other Compositae.

The Scalloped Owlet, Scoleopteryx libatrix (Scol-e-op'ter-
yx li-ba'trix). — This moth is easily recognized by the shape
of the wings, the outer margins of which are deeply cut and
scalloped (Fig. 363). The
color of the fore wings is soft
brownish gray, slightly pow¬
dered with rust - red, and
frosted with white along the
costa. There is an irregular
patch of rust-red reaching from the base to the middle of
the wing, a single, white, transverse line before the middle,
and a double one beyond the middle. The larva feeds on

willow. This species is found in
all parts of the United States
and in Europe.

The American Copper Hind-
wi ng, A mph ipyra pyramidoides
(Am -ph i p'y-ra py r-a-m i-d o i 'd es).

Fig. 364 .—Amphipyrit Pyramidoides. - The fore Wl’ngS of this moth

(Fig. 364) are dark brown, shaded with paler brown, and
with dots and wavy lines of a glassy gray or dull whitish

Fig. 363. — Scoleopteryx libatrix.

LEPIDOP TER A.

303

hue. The hind wings, except the costal third, are reddish,
with more or less of a coppery lustre. This suggests the
popular name. A closely-allied species found in Europe is
known as the Copper Underwing; but we prefer to reserve
the name Underwing for the species of Catocala. The larva
feeds on the leaves of grape and Virginia-creeper.

The Many-dotted Apple-worm, Balsa malana
(Bal'sa ma-la'na). — In June, and again in August
or September, there is some¬
times found on apple-leaves, in
considerable numbers, a rather
thick, cylindrical, light-green
worm, an inch or more in length, Fig. 365 —

.- r . . . , Balsa malana.

with fine, white, longitudinal
lines and numerous whitish dots. These are the
larvae of the little moth represented by Figure 365.
The fore wings of this moth are ash-gray, marked
by irregular, blackish lines. The larvae feed on
the leaves of many other trees besides apple.
The moth has been found throughout the eastern
half of our country.

The Army-worm, Leucania unipuncta (Leu-ca'-
ni-a u-ni-punc'ta). — The Army-worm is so called
because it frequently appears in great numbers,
and, after destroying the vegetation in the field
where the eggs were laid, marches like an army to
other fields. This insect occurs throughout the
United States east of the Rocky Mountains, and
is present every year; but it attracts attention
only when it appears in great numbers. The larva
(Fig. 366) is one and one-half inches long when
VUu?anTa full grown, and is striped with black, yellow, and
UH\irv&.icl' green. The adult is of a dull brown color, marked
in the center of each fore wing with a distinct white spot
(Fig. 367). In seasons of serious outbreak of this pest it
usually appears first in limited areas, in meadows or pastures.

304 THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

If it is discovered before it has spread from these places it can
be confined by surrounding the field with a ditch, or it may be

destroyed by spraying the
grass with Paris-green water.
Ordinarily, however, the
worms are not observed until
after they have begun to
march and are wide-spread.
In such cases it is customary
to protect fields of grain in
their path by surrounding
them with ditches with ver¬
tical sides; it is well to dig
holes like post-holes at in¬
tervals of a few rods in the bottom of such ditches. The
worms falling into the ditch are unable to get out, and crawl
along at the bottom and fall into these deeper holes. We
have seen these insects collected by the bushel in this way.

The Diver, Bellura gortynides (Bel-lu'ra gor-tyn'i-des). —
One of the most remarkable exceptions to what are usually
the habits of members of this order is presented by the
larva of this species. This larva is able to descend into
water and remain there for a long time. It lives in the leaf¬
stalks of the pond-lily. It bores a hole from the upper side
of the leaf into the petiole, which
it tunnels in some instances to the
depth of two feet or more below
the surface of the water. This
necessitates its remaining below
the surface of the water while
feeding. The writer has seen one
of these larvae remain under water F,G* 368.— Beiium gortynides.
voluntarily for the space of a half-hour. The tracheae of these
larvae are unusually large, and we believe that they serve as
reservoirs of air for the use of the insect while under water.
The form of the hind end of the larva has also been modi-

Fig. 367. — Leucania unipuncta.

LEPID OP TER A .

305

fied, so as to fit it for the peculiar life of the insect. The
last segment appears as if the dorsal half had been cut
away; and in the dorsal part of the hind end of the next
to the last segment, which, on account of the peculiar shape
of the last segment, is free, there open a pair of spiracles
much larger than those on the other segments. When not
feeding the larva rests at the upper end of its burrow, with
the segment bearing these large spiracles projecting from
the water. The adult insect is a brownish moth which
varies greatly in size and markings. Figure 368 represents
what seems to be the more common form.

The Zebra Caterpillar, Mamestra picta (Ma-mes'tra
pic'ta). — Cabbage and other garden vegetables are often
subject to the attacks of a naked caterpillar, which is of a
light yellow color, with three broad, longitudinal, black

stripes, one on each side and the third on the top of the
back. The stripes on the sides are broken by numerous
pure white lines (Fig. 369). It passes the winter in the
pupa state. The adult (Fig. 370) has dark chestnut-brown
fore wings and pale yellowish hind wings.

Cut-worms . — Few pests are more annoying than the ras¬
cally little harvesters that nightly, in the spring, cut off our
corn and other plants before they are fairly started. There
are many species of these cut-worms, but they are all the
larvae of Owlet-moths. In general their habits are as
follows: The moths lay their eggs during midsummer. The
larvae soon hatch, and feed upon the roots and tender shoots
of herbaceous plants. At this time, as the larvae are small
and their food is abundant, they are rarely observed. On the

306

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

approach of cold weather they bury themselves in the
ground and here pass the winter. In the spring they renew
their attacks on vegetation ; but now, as they are larger and
in cultivated fields the plants are smaller, their ravages
quickly attract attention. It would not be so bad if they
merely destroyed what they eat ; but they have the unfortu¬
nate habit of cutting off the young plants at the surface of
the ground, and thus destroy much more than they consume.
They do their work at night, remaining concealed in the
ground during the daytime. When full grown they form
oval chambers in the ground in which they pass the pupa
state. The moths appear during the months of June, July,
and August.

There are some exceptions to these generalizations : some
species of cut-worms ascend trees during the night and destroy
the young buds; some pass through two generations in the
course of a year ; and a few pass the winter in the pupa state.

Cut-worms can be destroyed by poisoned baits of fresh
clover or other green vegetation, or with poisoned dough
made of bran. Much can be done by making holes in the

ground with a sharpened stick,
as a broom-handle. The holes
should be vertical, a foot deep,
and with smooth sides. On the
approach of day the cut-worms
will crawl into such holes to
hide, and will be unable to crawl
out again. Climbing cut-worms can be jarred from the
trees during the night, and caught upon sheets, and then
destroyed.

One of our cut-worms, which is known as the Spotted
Cut-worm, is the larva of the Black-c Owlet, Noctua
c-nigrum (Noc'tu-a c-ni'grum;. This moth (Fig. 371) is one
of the most common species attracted to lights. It occurs
throughout our country and in Europe.

At the end of the Noctuid series there is placed a group

LEPIDOPTERA.

307

of genera, which contain species that differ in appearance
from other Noctuids, the larvae of many being hairy like
those of Arctiids. The fore wings of the moths are gener¬
ally light gray with dark spots, and in many species have a
dagger-like mark near the anal angle. On this account these
moths have received the name Daggers.

The Ochre Dagger, Acronycta morula (Ac-ro-nyc'ta mor'u-
la). — This moth (Fig. 372) is pale gray with a yellowish
tinge. Besides the black line
forming part of the dagger
near the anal angle of the
fore wing, there is a similar
black line near the base of
the wing, and a third near
the outer margin between
veins V, and Va. The larva
feeds on elm and basswood. When full grown it is mottled
brown and greenish like the bark, it is clothed with but few

scattered hairs, and has a
hump on the first, fourth, and
eighth abdominal segments.

The American Dagger, Ac -
ronycta antericana (Ac-ro-nyc'¬
ta a-mer-i-ca'na). — This is a
gray moth resembling in its
general appearance the pre¬
ceding, but with the black
lines on the fore wings much
less distinct. Its larva, how¬
ever, is very different (Fig.
373). This larva looks like an
Arctiid, being densely clothed
with yellow hairs. But these
, hairs are scattered over the

Fig. 373. — Acronycta antericana , larva. .

surface of the body instead of
growing from tubercles, as with the larvse of Arctiids. Along

308

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

the sides of the body and at each end are a few scattered
hairs that are longer than the general clothing, and there
are two pairs of long black pencils borne by the first and
third abdominal segments, and a single pencil on the eighth
abdominal segment. When at rest the larva remains curled
sidewise on a leaf, as shown in the figure. It feeds on
maple, elm, and other forest trees.

Dagger, A crony da hamamelis (Ac-ro-
nyc'ta ham-a-me'lis). — In the latter
part of summer and in autumn the
larva of this species is common on the
leaves of witch-hazel, oak, and other
forest trees. It differs greatly in ap¬
pearance from the preceding species,
being nearly naked (Fig. 374)* When
at rest it usually lies curled as shown
in the figure. It varies in color from
light yellow to reddish brown. Its
most characteristic feature is a double
row of milk-white spots along the
middle of the back.

Family Lymantriid^E (Lym-an-tri'i-dae).

The Tussock-moths.

The larvae of these moths are among the most beautiful
of our caterpillars, being clothed with brightly-colored tufts
of hairs ; and it is to this characteristic clothing of the larvae
that the popular name Tussock-moths refers.

The adult moths are much plainer in appearance than
the larvae ; and in the genus Notolophus , to which our most
common species belong, the females are practically wingless,
the wings being at most short pads, of no use as organs
of flight.

The Tussock-moths are of medium size, with the antennae
of both sexes when winged pectinated, those of the males

The Witch-hazel

Fig. y]\.—Acronycta hatna-
melis , larva.

LEPIDOPTERA .

309

very broadly so ; the wingless females have serrate or nar¬
rowly pectinate antennae. The ocelli are wanting. The
legs are clothed with
woolly hairs; when
the insect is at rest
the fore legs are usu¬
ally stretched for¬
ward, and are very
conspicuous on ac¬
count of these long
hairs. The venation
of the wings is rep¬
resented by Figure
375 ; in this respect
these moths are very
similar to the Noc-
tuids ; in fact we
have been unable to
find as yet any con¬
stant feature in the
structureof thewings
of either family that will serve to separate the two. But in
the Lymantriidae the antennae are pectinate and the ocelli are
absent ; while in the Noctuidae the antennae are usually sim¬
ple and the ocelli are usually present; and when the antennae
are pectinate the ocelli, in all cases known to us, are pres¬
ent : in this way a distinction is preserved between the two
families. Although it is hard to find a distinction between
the two that can be put into words, the general appearance
of the Tussock-moths is very different from that of the
Noctuids, and entomologists have no difficulty in deciding to
which family any species belongs. The Tussock-moths are
chiefly nocturnal ; but the males of Notolophus fly in the
daytime.

The larvae of our native species are very characteristic in
appearance. The body is hairy; there are several con-

Fig. 375. — Wings of Notolophus leucostigma .

3!0

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

spicuous tufts of hairs on the dorsal aspect of the abdomen,
and at each end of the body there are long pencils of hairs;
on the sixth and seventh abdominal segments there is on
the middle of the back of each an eversible gland supposed
to be a scent-organ similar to the osmateria in the larvae of
Papilio, and it is stated that a fine spray of liquid is some¬
times thrown from them.

Excepting a few rare forms, our native species fall into
two genera — Notolophus and Parorgyia . In Notolophus the
males have short, broad wings ; the females are nearly
wingless. In Parorgyia both sexes are winged, and the
wings are relatively longer than in Notolophus.

Our most common species belong to Notolophus. Of this
genus the three best-known species are the following : —

The White-marked Tussock-moth, Notolophus leucostigma
(No-tol'o-phus leu-co-stig'ma). — This is our most common rep¬
resentative of the family. It frequently
occurs in such great numbers that it
seriously injures the foliage of shade-
trees and orchards. The male (Fig.
376) is of an ashy gray color ; the fore

Fig. 376. — Notolophus leuco- . . . . . , , .

stigma. wings are crossed by undulated bands

of darker shade and bear a conspicuous white spot near the
anal angle. The female is white and resembles a hairy grub

Fig. 377. — Notolophus leucostigma , larva.

more than a moth. She emerges from her cocoon and
after pairing lays her eggs upon it, covering them with a

LEPIDOPTERA .

31 1

frothy mass. The larva (Fig. 377) is one of the most beau-
tiful of our caterpillars. The head and the glands on the
sixth and seventh abdominal segments are bright vermilion-
red. There is a velvety black dorsal band, bordered with
yellow subdorsal stripes ; and there is another yellow band
on each side just below the spiracles. The prothorax bears
on each side a pencil of long black hairs with plume-like
tips; a similar brush is borne on the back of the eighth
abdominal segment, and the first four abdominal segments
bear dense brush-like tufts of cream-colored or white hairs.

When this insect becomes a pest the larvae can be de¬
stroyed by spraying the infested trees with Paris-green water ;
or the egg-bearing cocoons can be collected during the win¬
ter and destroyed. These cocoons are attached to the trunks
of the trees and to neighboring objects, or to twigs. In the
latter case they are usually partially enclosed in a leaf. Co¬
coons not bearing eggs should not be destroyed, as many of
them contain parasites. Owing to the wingless condition of
the female this pest spreads slowly.

The Well-marked Tussock-moth, Notolophus definit a (N.
def-i-ni'ta). — The male, like that of the preceding species, is
of an ashy gray color ; but the markings of the fore wings
are much more distinct. The female is light brown. She
lays her eggs in a mass on her cocoon, covering them with
hair from her body. The larva closely resembles the pre¬
ceding species in the form and arrangement of its tufts of
hair, but differs markedly in color, being almost entirely light
yellow. There is a dusky dorsal stripe and a velvety black
spot behind each of the tufts of the first four abdominal seg¬
ments. The head and the glands on the sixth and seventh
abdominal segments are, like the body, light yellow.

The Old Tussock-moth, Notolophus antigua (N. an-ti'qua).
— The male is of a rust-brown color ; the fore wings are
crossed by two deeper brown bands and have a conspicuous
white spot near the anal angle. The body of the grub-like
female is black, clothed with yellowish white hairs; she lays

312

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

her eggs on her cocoon, but, unlike the two preceding species,
does not cover them with anything. The larva differs from
either of the preceding in having an extra pair of pencils
of plume-like hairs arising from the sides of the second
abdominal segment ; the head is jet-black ; the glands on the
sixth and seventh abdominal segments are vermilion-red or
sometimes bright orange ; and the tubercles on the sides of
the back of the second and third thoracic and the sixth
and seventh abdominal segments are orange-red or yellow
margined with pale yellow.

The Gipsy Moth, Porthetria rfw/ar (Por-the'tri-a dis'par). —
This is a European species which has been introduced into
Massachusetts. It has become such a serious pest that the
Legislature of that State has appropriated a large sum of
money to be expended in efforts to eradicate it ; this work is
now going on. The male is yellowish brown ; the female,

white (Fig. 378). In each
the fore wings are crossed
by many dark lines and bear
a black lunule on the discal
vein. The specimen figured
is unusually small. The eggs
are laid in a mass on any
convenient object and are
covered with hair from the abdomen of the female. The
larva differs greatly in appearance from that of the preceding
genus, lacking the peculiar pencils and tufts of hair ; but the
characteristic glands of the sixth and seventh abdominal
segments are present and are red. The body is dark brown
or black, finely reticulated with pale yellow, and with narrow
yellow dorsal and subdorsal lines. On the dorsal aspect of
each segment there is a pair of prominent, rounded tubercles
bearing spiny black hairs. The first five pairs of these
tubercles are bluish, the others dark crimson-red. There
are also two rows of tubercles on each side of the body
which bear longer hairs.

Fig. yfi.—Porihctria dispar , female.

LEPIDOPTERA.

313

Family Agaristid^E (Ag-a-ris'ti-dae).

The Wood-nymph Moths .

These gayly-dressed moths are a delight to the collector.
We have but few species of them in this country, and an
even smaller number are common. These moths are either
black with large, white or yellow, rounded patches upon the
wings, or they have the front wings white, margined with
brown, and the hind wings pale yellow. They are chiefly
day-flying; but some of them are attracted to lights at
night.

The shape of the antennae varies greatly in the different
genera. I n Euthisanotia
the antennae are fili¬
form ; in Alypia slightly
enlarged near the tip ;
and in Psyckomorpha
they are filiform in the
female and pectinated
in the male. The max¬
illae are moderately well
developed and spirally
rolled. The venation
of the wings (Fig. 379)
is very similar to that
of some Noctuids ; but
there is no difficulty in
separating the two fam¬
ilies, the Wood-nymph
Moths being very dif¬
ferent in appearance from any Noctuids.

The larvae are but slightly clothed, and live exposed on
the leaves of plants. Our more common species feed
chiefly on grape and Virginia-creeper, which they some¬
times injure to a serious extent. In such cases they can be
destroyed by the use of Paris green. This substance can

Fig. 379. — Wing's of Cofiidryas gloveri.

3l4

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

be used even in vineyards in the East, as the application
would have to be made early in the season, and the sum¬
mer rains would wash the poison from the vines. The
pupa state is passed either in an earthen cell or in a very
slight cocoon.

The family is one of limited extent ; less than thirty
North American species are known. The larger number of
these occur in the far West or in the Gulf States. The
following are the most common species: —

The Eight-spotted Forester, Alypia octomaculata (A-lyp'-
i-a oc-to-mac-u-la'ta). — This species is of a deep velvety-black
color. The front wings have two large
sulphur-yellow spots; and the hind wings,
two white spots (Fig. 380). The figure
represents a male ; the female is some-
. , , what larger. The patagia are sulphur-

Fig. 380. — Alypia octo- 43 * ® t r

macuiata. yellow. The legs are black with orange-
colored scales on the tibias of the first and second pairs.
The larva (Fig. 381) feeds upon the leaves of grape and Vir-
ginia-creeper, and sometimes occurs in such large numbers
as to do serious injury. The ground-color of the larva is
white, with eight black stripes on each segment, and a

Fig. 381. — Alypia octomaculata , larva.

broader orange band, bounded by the two middle stripes ;
the orange bands are marked by black, conical, elevated
spots. There are usually two broods each year, the moths
appearing on the wing in May and August, the caterpillars
in June and July, and in September. The pupa state is
passed in an earthen cell in the ground.

Langton’s Forester, Alypia langtonii (A. lang-to'ni-i),
resembles the preceding species in general appearance, but

LEP1D0P TER A.

315

Fig. 382 .—PsychomorpJiv
epimenis .

can be readily distinguished by the hind wings bearing only
a single spot. It is not a common species, and its early
stages have not yet been described.

The Grape-vine- Epimenis, Psychomorpha epimenis (Psy-
cho-mor'pha ep-i-me'nis). — This is a velvety-black species
with a large white patch on the outer third of the front
wings and a brick-red patch on the hind
wings (Fig. 382). The larva resembles
somewhat that of Alypia figured above;
but it is bluish and has only four light
and four dark stripes to each segment.

It feeds upon the terminal shoots of
grape and Virginia-creeper in spring, drawing the leaves to¬
gether by a weak silken thread and destroying them. When
ready to transform, which is usually towards the end of May,
it either enters the ground or bores into soft wood to form a
cell. Within this it remains until the following spring.

The Beautiful Wood-nymph, EutJiisanotia grata (Eu-this-
a-no'ti-a gra'ta).— This moth (Fig. 383) well deserves the
popular name that has been applied to it. Its front wings
are creamy white, with a glassy surface; a wide brownish-
purple stripe extends along the costal margin, reaching

from the base to a little beyond
the middle of the wing, and on
the outer margin is a band of
the same hue, which has a wavy
white line running through it,
and is margined internally with
a narrow olive-green band.
On the inner margin is a yel-
The hind wings are clear pale
ochre-yellow, with a brown band on the outer margin. The
wing expanse is about one and three-fourths inches. The
moth appears during the latter part of June or early in
July. The larva of this species is pale bluish, crossed by
bands of orange and many fine black lines. It also bears a

Fig. 383. — EutJiisanotia grata.

lowish olive-green cloud

3i 6

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

resemblance to that of Alypia , but may be distinguished by
having only six transverse black lines on each segment. It
has the same food-plants as the species described above. It
transforms in a cell in the ground or in soft wood.

The Pearl Wood-nymph, Euthisanotia unio (E. u'ni-o).—
This moth closely resembles the species just described, but
is smaller, expanding a little less than one and one half
inches. The outer border of the front wings is paler and
mottled ; and the band on the hind wings extends from the
inner angle to the apex. The larva resembles that of E.
grata ; it feeds upon the leaves of Euphorbia color atum , and
perhaps on grape also.

Family PERICOPID^E (Per-i-cop'i-dre).

The Pericopids {Pe-rid b-pids).

These beautiful insects occur within the limits of our
country only in the far West and in the Gulf States. They

__ resemble the

***• Woo d-n ymph
Moths in their
strongly contrast¬
ing colors ; but
can be distin¬
guished from
them by the po¬
sition of the ori¬
gin of vein V, of
the hind wings,
which appears to
be a branch of
cubitus (Fig. 384).

Our most com¬
mon species be¬
long to the genus
G nop ha la (Gno-

Fig. 384.— Wings of Gnopheela hopffen. pllSe^la). These

are black with conspicuous yellow spots. G . vermiculata

LEPIDOP TER A. 3 1 7

(G. ver-mic-u-la'ta) occurs in Colorado ; it is represented
by Figure 385. G . hopj -
feri (G. hopf'fe-ri) is
found in California, in
the foot-hills of the Sierra
Nevadas. It has three
yellow spots near the mid¬
dle of the fore wing, and
a transverse row of from

. 1 . r . Fig. 385. — Gnophcela vermiculata.

three to hve spots near

the outer margin ; on the hind wings there are two spots near
the base and another pair between these and the apex of the
wing.

Family ARCTIID,E (Arc-ti'i-dae).

The Tiger-moths , or Arctiids (A rc'ti-ids).

The Arctiidas includes stout-bodied moths, with moder¬
ately broad wings, which in the majority of cases are con¬
spicuously striped or spotted, suggesting the popular name
Tiger-moths; some of the species, however, are unspotted.

A large proportion of
the species are exceed-
ingly beautiful ; this
renders the family a
favorite one with collec¬
tors. As a rule, when
at rest, the wings are
folded roof-like upon
the body. The moths
fly at night, and are at¬
tracted to lights.

These moths differ
from the following fam¬
ily in having ocelli;
these are often prominent, at other times they are difficult
to see on account of the long hairs with which the head is

Fig. 386.— Wings of Halisidota tessellata.

318 the study of insects .

clothed. The palpi are short, usually but little developed;
and the maxillae are present. The most important features in
the venation of the wings (Figs. 386, 387) is the union of
veins V2 and V, of the fore wings with cubitus, making
it apparently four-branched ; and the growing together of
subcosta and radius of the hind wings for a considerable
distance. The extent of the union of these two veins varies
greatly in the different genera; but so far as we have ob¬
served it is always less
than four fifths of the
length of the discal
cell. This character is
of use in separating
these insects from the

t

Zygaenidae in which
the union of these two
veins is carried farther.

The larvae of the
Tiger-moths are clothed
with dense clusters of
hairs. In fact a large
proportion of our com¬
mon hairy caterpillars
are members of this
family. I11 some species, certain of the clusters of hairs
are much larger than the others, resembling in this
respect the clothing of the Tussock-moths. Most larvae
of the Arctiids feed upon herbaceous plants, and many
species seem to have but little choice of food-plant ;
but certain common species feed upon leaves of forest-
trees.

About one hundred and fifty North American species
have been described. The following are some of the more
common representatives.

Among the more beautiful of the Tiger-moths is a genus
the species of which are snow-white or light yellow with the

LEPIDOPTERA.

3*9

Fig. 388. — Haploa contigua.

fore wings banded with dark brown. In most species the
hind wings are unspot¬
ted and are snow-
white, but in some
the hind wings are
yellow. These moths
constitute the genus
Haploa (Hap'lo-a). A
species common in the
Atlantic States and rep¬
resented by Figure 388 is Haploa contigua (H. con-tig'u-a).
The insects of this genus vary greatly in their markings.

The Bella-moth, Utetheisa della (U-te-thei'sa bel'la) is a

whitish moth with lemon-yellow
or orange-colored fore wings,
crossed by six transverse white
bands, each containing a series
of black dots (Fig. 389); the
hind wings are pink, with a
black outer margin, which is bordered within by a narrow white
line. The species occurs throughout the Atlantic States.

The Harlequin
Milkweed Cater¬
pillar, Cycnia egle
(Cyc'ni-a eg'le). —

This larva is the
most common cat¬
erpillar found on
milkweed. It is
clothed with tufts
of orange, black,
and white ; those
at each end of the
body are longer
than the others,
and are arranged radiately (Fig. 390). When full grown

Fig. 389 Utetheisa bell a.

320

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

the larva makes a felt-like cocoon composed largely of its
hairs. The adult has mouse-gray, unspotted wings; the
abdomen is yellow, with a row of black spots along the
middle of the back.

The Hickory Tiger-moth, Halisidota cary& (Ha-bs-i-
do'ta ca'ry-ae). — One of the most abundant of caterpillars
in the Atlantic States and westward during the months of
August and September is one clothed with dense tufts of
finely barbed white hairs (Fig. 391) ; there is a ridge or crest

Fig. 391. — Halisidota caryce> larva.

of black hairs on the middle of the back of the abdominal
segments, a few long white hairs projecting over the head
from the thorax, and others projecting back from the last seg¬
ment ; there are also two pairs of pencils of black hairs, one

on the first and one on the seventh
abdominal segment, and a similar
pair of pencils of white hairs on
the eighth abdominal segment.
This larva feeds on hickory,
butternut, and other forest-trees.
Its grayish cocoons, composed

almost entirely of the hair of the larva, are often found under
stones, fences, and other similar places. The fore wings of
the adult (Fig. 392) are dark brown spotted with white.

LEPIDOPTERA.

321

The Salt-marsh Caterpillar, Estigmene acraa (Es-tig-me'ne
a-crde'a). — The popular name of this insect was given to it
by Harris, and was suggested by the fact that the salt-
marsh meadows about Boston were overrun and laid waste
in his time by swarms of the larvae. But the name is mis¬
leading, as the species is widely distributed throughout the
United States. The moth
(Fig- 393) is white, marked
with yellow and black.

There are many black dots
on the wings, a row of
black spots on the back of
the abdomen, another row
on the venter, and two rows on each side. The sexes differ
greatly in the ground-color of the wings; in the female, this
is white throughout ; in the male, only the upper surface of
the fore wings is white, the lower surface of the fore wings
and the hind wings above and below being yellow. The num¬
ber and size of the black spots on the wings vary greatly.
There are usually more submarginal spots on the hind
wings than lepresented in our figure.

The Fall Web-worm, Hyphantria ciinea (Hy-phan'tri-a
cu'ne-a). — A very common sight in autumn in all parts of
our country is large ugly webs enclosing branches of fruit or
forest trees. These webs are especially common on apple
and on ash. Each web is the residence of a colony of
larvse which have hatched from a cluster of eggs, laid on a
leaf by a snow-white moth. There is a variety of this
moth in which the fore wings are thickly studded with dark
brown spots. Every gradation exists between this form
and those that are spotless. The species winters in the
pupa state,- and the moths emerge during May or June.
The webs made by this insect should not be confounded
with those made by the Apple-tree Tent-caterpillar. The
webs of the Fall Web-worm are made in the autumn, and

Fig. 393* — Estigmene acrtea.

22

322

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

are much lighter in texture, being extended over all of the
leaves fed upon by the colony.

The Isabella Tiger-moth, Pyrrharctia Isabella (Pyr-rharc'-
ti-a is-a-bel'la). — “ Hurrying along like a caterpillar in the
fall” is a common saying among country people in New
England, and probably had its origin in observations made
upon the larva of the Isabella Tiger-moth. This is the
evenly clipped, furry caterpillar, reddish brown in the
middle and black at either end, which is seen so commonly
in the autumn and early spring (Fig. 394). Its evident haste

to get somewhere, in the
autumn, is almost painful to
witness. A nervous anxiety
is apparent in every undulat-

Fic. 394. Pyrrharctia ixabtlla, larva. jng movement of its body J

and frequently its shining black head is raised high in the
air, and moved from side to side, while it gets its bearings.
Occasionally after such an observation it evidently finds it
is mistaken, and turns sharply and hastens along faster than
ever in another direction. So far as we can judge, its ex¬
citement comes from a sudden fear that winter will over¬
take it before it can find a cosy, protected corner in which
to pass its winter sleep. In the spring it comes forth again,
and after feeding for a time makes a blackish-brown cocoon
composed largely of its hair. The adult is of a dull grayish
tawny-yellow, with a few black dots on the wings, and fre-
quently with the hinder pair tinged with orange-red. On
the middle of the back of the abdomen there is a row of
about six black dots, and on each side of the body a similar
row of dots.

The Yellow-bear, Spilosoma virginica (Spil-o-so'ma vir-
gin'i-ca). — The larva of this species is one of the most com¬
mon hairy caterpillars found feeding on herbaceous plants.
It was named by Harris the Yellow-bear on account of the
long yellow hairs with which the body is clothed. These
hairs are uneven in length, some scattered ones being twice

LEPJDOPT ERA.

323

as long as the greater number of hairs. The long hairs are
more numerous near the caudal end than elsewhere, but are
nowhere gathered into pencils as with the Tussock-cater¬
pillars. This larva varies greatly in color. The body is most
often of a pale yellow or straw color, with a black, more or
less interrupted, longitudinal line along each side, and a
more or less distinct transverse line of the same color be¬
tween each of the segments. Sometimes the hairs are foxy
red or light brown, and the body brownish or even dark
brown. The head and the ends of the feet and forelegs are
yellowish, and the venter is dusky. The larva feeds on
almost any plant. The cocoon is light, and is composed
almost entirely of the hairs of the caterpillar. This insect
passes the winter in the pupa state ; and it is probable that
there are usually two or more broods each year ; but these
are not well marked. The moth (Fig. 395) is snowy white,
with the wings marked by a few
black dots ; these vary in num¬
ber, but there are rarely more
than three on either wing.

There is a row of black spots
on the back of the abdomen,
and another on each side, and
between these a longitudinal deep yellow stripe.

A very large number of species of Tiger-moths belong

to the genus Eyprepia
(Ey-pre'pi-a). These
are perhaps the most
striking in appear¬
ance of all members
of the family. The
fore wings are velvety
black marked with
F.c 396 Eyprtp ta virg ?. yellowish Or pink

bands ; in some species the lighter color predominates, so
that the fore wings appear to be yellow or pink, spotted

324

THE STUD V OF INSECTS.

with black. The hind wings are red, pink, or yellow, and
are margined or spotted with black. The thorax is usually
marked with three black stripes, of which the lateral ones
are borne by the patagia. There is also a black line or a
row of black spots along the middle of the back of the ab¬
domen, and a similar row of spots on each side. Our most
common species of this genus is Eyprepia virgo (Fig. 396).
The larva of this species feeds on pigweed and other un¬
cultivated plants.

Family LlTHOSHD/E (Lith-o-si'i-dae).

The Footman-moths or Lithosiids (Li-t ho' si-ids).

The Lithosiidae include small moths with rather slender
bodies, filiform antennae, and usually narrow front wings and
broad hind wings. As a rule they are closely scaled insects
of sombre colors, a fact that has won for them the title of
Footman-moths; but in case of some of the species their
livery is very gay. Some species fly by day, while others
are attracted to lights at night.

This family is closely allied to the Arctiidae ; in fact it is
sometimes difficult to tell to which of these families a species
belongs. Usually the Footman-moths can be distinguished
by the absence of ocelli ; but some species possess very small
ones. The palpi are small or moderately developed ; the
maxillae are present and quite well developed. The vena¬
tion of the wings differs greatly in the different genera ; but
in its more important features it resembles that of the Arc¬
tiidae.

The larva, are cylindrical and covered with short, stiff
hairs. The majority of the species whose transformations
are known feed upon lichens. They transform in very deli¬
cate cocoons or have naked pupae. Among our more com¬
mon species are the following: —

The Pale Footman, Crambidia pallida (Cram-bid'i-a pal -
li-da. — This moth is of a uniform drab color, with the abdo¬
men and the inner part of hind wings paler; it expands nine

LEP1D0PTERA.

325

tenths of an inch. The moths of the genus Crambidia can
be recognized by the fact that veins V3 and V3 of the fore
wings are both wanting, leaving cubitus only two-branched.

The Two-colored Footman, Lithosia bicolor (Li-tho'si-a
bi'co-lor). — This is larger than the preceding species, expand¬
ing from one to one and one half inches. It is slate-colored,
with the palpi, the prothorax, the costa of the fore wings,
and the tip of the abdomen yellow. Vein V, of the fore
wings is wanting, leaving cubitus apparently three-branched

The Striped Footman, Hypoprepia miniata (Hy-po-pre'
pi-a min-i-a'ta). — This beautiful moth is of a deep scarlet
color, with three broad lead-colored stripes on the front wings.
Two of the stripes extend the entire length of the wings ;
while the third is between these
and extends from the end of the
discal cell to the outer margin
(Fig. 397). The outer half of the
hind wings is also slate-colored.

Vein V, of the fore wings is pres- FlG* miniata.

ent ; but vein Va of the hind wings is wanting. The larva
feeds upon lichens, and may be found under loose stones or
on the trunks of trees. It is dusky, and thinly covered
with stiff, sharp, and barbed black bristles, which grow
singly from small warts. The cocoon is thin and silky.

The Painted Footman, Hypoprepia fucosa (Hy-po-pre'pi-a
fu-co'sa). — This species is very similar to the preceding and
has been confounded with it. With the Painted Footman
the ground-color of the fore wings is partly yellow and
partly red.

The Clothed-in-white Footman, Clemensia albata (Cle-
men'si-a al-ba'ta). — The specific name of this insect is some¬
what misleading ; for although the general color of the moth
is white, there are so many ashen and gray scales, and dark
spots, that the general effect is gray. On the front wings
the more prominent black spots are six or seven on the
costa, one on the discal vein, and a row of small ones on the

326

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

outer margin. The hind wings are white, but finely dusted
with gray scales. With this cpecies vein V2 is present in
both fore and hind wings.

The Banded Footman, Cisthene unifascia (Cis-the'ne
u-ni-fas'ci-a). — This little beauty (Fig. 398) occurs in the
Atlantic States from New York to Texas. The
fore wings are lead-colored, and crossed by a
Fig 398 —Cisthene yeM°w band, which extends also along the inner
uni/ascia. margin to the base of the wings. The hind
wings are' pink except the apex, which is lead-colored.
There is much variation in the width of the yellow band.

Family ZYG/ENID^5 (Zy-gaen'i-dae).

The Zygcenids (Zy-gd nids).

These moths are most easily distinguished from the allied
families that are rep¬
resented in this coun¬
try by the structure
of the hind wings.

Here we find the
tendency of veins II
and III to coalesce
carried to the great¬
est extreme, mey
being joined clear
to the margin of the
wing (Fig. 399); oc-
casionally forms are
found in which the
tips of these two
veins are separate for
a short distance near

the apex Of the Wing; Fie. 399— Wings of CUnucha virginica.

and usually they are separated for a short distance near the
base of the wing, as shown in the figure. In some of the more

LEPIDOPTERA.

327

specialized forms, as Cosmosoma (Fig. 400), the hind wings
are greatly reduced in size, and the branches of radius and
cubitus coalesce to a remarkable
degree.

To the first division of this
family belong a small number
of bluish-black or brown moths
which have more or less vermilion
or yellow on the head, prothorax, F,G' <°° ,-cos, „os<»»a aug*.
and patagia. These moths are of medium size, expanding
from one and one fifth to two inches. The dull color of the
wings is usually relieved by the bright color of the head and
patagia, and by a layer of blue scales covering the thorax
and abdomen ; but in some species these are wanting. The
larvae feed on grasses. Some of them strongly resemble
those of the Arctiidae in appearance as well as in habits,
being thickly clothed with hair ; they also spin cocoons simi¬
lar to those of Arctiids. Our common forms represent two

Fig. 401. — Ctenucha virginica. Fig. 402 — Scepsis fulvicollis.

genera, Ctenucha (Cte-nu'cha) and Scepsis (Scep'sis)/ In the
East we have only a single species of each of these genera,
Ctenucha virginica (C. vir-gin'i-ca), which is represented by
Figure 401, and Scepsis fulvicollis (S. ful-vi-col'lis), repre¬
sented by Figure 402.

The second division of the family
includes a much larger number and a
much greater variety of forms. Our

Fig. 403 —Ly comorph a

P ho i us. most common species is Lycomorpha

pholus (Ly-co-mor'pha pho'lus). This is black with the
basal half of the fore wings and the basal third of the hind

328

THE STUD V OF INSECTS.

wings yellow (Fig. 403). A variety of this species occurs in
California in which the lighter parts of the wings are pinkish
instead of yellow. These moths occur in stony places,
where the larvae feed on lichens growing on rocks.

In the extreme southern part of our country and in the
regions south of that, there occur highly specialized mem¬
bers of this family, in which the hind wings are greatly re¬
duced in size, and the veins of the hind wings coalesce to a
remarkable degree. In some of these forms the discal por¬
tion of the wings bears but few if any scales. Cosmosoma
aage (Cos-mo-so'ma au'ge) from Florida (Fig. 400) will serve
as an example of these. In this species the body and legs are
bright red, with the head, end of abdomen, and a dorsal band
blue-black ; the veins and borders of the wings are also black.

Family THYRIDID2E (Thy-rid'i-dae).

The Windozv-winged Moths .

These little moths can be easily recognized by the presence
of curious white or yellowish translucent spots upon the
wings ; it is these spots that suggests the name Window¬
winged Moths for the family.

In this family the antennae are either strictly filiform or

slightly thickened in the middle ;
the ocelli are wanting ; the palpi
project horizontally, and are
somewhat longer than the head ;
and the maxillae are strongly
developed. The venation of the
wings differs from that of all
other families of moths, in that
all five branches of radius of the
fore wings are preserved and arise
from the discal cell (Fig. 404).*
A similar type of venation is

* In a single genus of the Pyromorphidae, Triprocris (p. 227, Fig. 268),
all the branches of radius arise from the discal cell.

Fig. 404.— Wings of Thy r is maculata.

LEPIDOPTERA.

329

possessed by the Skippers (Hesperina); but the Window¬
winged Moths differ from the Skippers in having a well-
developed frenulum.

The early stages of our species are not known ; but the
larva of a European species lives upon the leaves of Cle¬
matis, which it rolls like a Tortricid. This larva is said to
appear like that of a Chrysomelid beetle. It descends to
the surface of the ground and makes a dense silken cocoon,
more or less mixed with grains of sand.

The most common representative of this family in the
Eastern and Middle States is the Spotted Thyris, TAyris
maculata (Thy'ris mac-u-la'ta). This species
(Fig. 405) is brownish black, sprinkled with rust-
yellow dots; the outer margin of the wings,
especially of the hind wings, is deeply scalloped,
with the edges of the indentations white.

There is on each wing a translucent white spot ; that of
the hind wing is larger, kidney-shaped, and almost divided
in two. This species occurs also in the West, as there are
specimens from Montana in the Cornell University collection.

The Mournful Thyris, Thyris lugiibris (Thy'ris lu-gu'bris),
is a larger species found in the Southern
States. It can be recognized by Figure 406.
It is brownish black, marked with yellow,
Fig. 406. — Thyris and with the translucent spots yellowish.

lugubris.

Fig, 405. — ThyrtK
maculata.

Family Sphingim: (Sphin'gi-dae).

The Hawk-moths or Sphinxes.

Hawk-moths are easily recognized by the form of the
body, wings, and antennae. The body is very stout and spin¬
dle-shaped ; the wings are long, narrow, and very strong ; the
antennae are more or less thickened in the middle or towards
the tip, which is frequently curved back in the form of a
hook ; rarely the antennae are pectinated. The sucking-tube
(maxillae) is usually very long, being in some instances twice

330

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

as long as the body; but in one subfamily it is short and
membranous. When not in use it is closely coiled like a
watch-spring beneath the head. None of the species have
ocelli.

The venation of the wings (Fig. 407) is quite character¬
istic ; the most distinctive feature is the presence of what

Fig. 407.— Wings of Phlegethontius celeus.

appears to be a cross-vein between subcosta and radius ol
the hind wing. This apparent cross-vein is due to the fact
that veins II and III are grown together for a short distance,
and then vein II separates and joins vein I. The obvious
presence of vein I in the hind wings is unusual ; but it occurs
in the Psychidae, in the Bombycidae, and in the Anthroceridae
(a family not represented in our fauna) also. This basal part
of vein I is probably preserved in other cases where it appears
to be the base of vein II. Thus in Citheronia (Fig. 417) there
:s a rudiment of the so-called cross-vein, which has entirely
disappeared in the more specialized forms of the family to

LEPIDOP 7 ERA .

331

which this genus belongs. In the Hawk-moths the frenu
lum is usually well preserved, but in a few it is wanting or
rudimentary. In many genera vein III3 of the fore wings
coalesces with vein III, to its tip, so that vein III is only
four-branched.

Some of the Hawk-moths are small or of medium size ;
but most of them are large. They have the most powerful
wings of all Lepidoptera. As a rule they fly in the twilight,
and have the habit of remaining poised over a flower while
extracting the nectar, holding themselves in this position by
a rapid motion of the wings. This attitude and the whir of
the vibrating wings gives them a strong resemblance to hum¬
ming-birds, hence they are sometimes called Humming-bird
Moths; but they are more often called Hawk-moths, on ac¬
count of their long, narrow wings and strong flight.

Of all the beautifully arrayed Lepidoptera some of the
Hawk-moths are the most truly elegant. There is a high-bred
tailor-made air about their clear-cut wings, their closely fitted
scales, and their quiet but exquisite colors. The harmony of
the combined hues of olive and tan, ochre and brown, black
and yellow, and grays of every conceivable shade, with touches
here and there of rose color, is a perpetual joy to the artistic
eye. They seldom have vivid colors except touches of yel¬
low or pink on the abdomen or hind wings, as if their fas¬
tidious taste allowed petticoats only of brilliant colors always
to be worn beneath quiet-toned overdresses.

The larvae of the Sphingidse feed upon leaves of various
plants and trees, and are often large and quite remarkable
in appearance (Fig. 408). The body is cylindrical and
naked and usually has a horn behind near the end of the
body on the eighth abdominal segment. Sometimes instead
of the horn there is a shiny tubercle or knob. We cannot
even guess the use of this horn, unless it is ornamental, for
it is never provided with a sting. These caterpillars when
resting rear the front of the body up in the air, curl the
head down in the most majestic manner, and remain thus

332

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

rigid and motionless for hours. When in this attitude they are
supposed to resemble the Egyptian Sphinx, and so the typical
genus was named Sphinx and the family the Sphingidae.
But we think they deserve the name independently of their
habits because of the riddle they constantly propound to us
as to why they wear this horn on the rear end of the body
instead of on the head, where it ought to be in order to be of

Fig. 408. — Sphinx ekersis% larva.

any use whatever as a horn. These caterpillars are usually
of some shade of green and often are ornamented with a
series of diagonal stripes along each side.

Most species pass the pupa state in the ground in simple
cells made in the earth ; some, however, transform on the
surface of the ground in imperfect cocoons composed of
leaves fastened together with silk.

Nearly one hundred species of Hawk-moths occur in
this country. The following are some of the more common

ones.

LEPIDOPTERA.

333

The Modest Sphinx, Marumba modesta (Ma-rum'ba
mo des'ta). — It was, probably, the quiet olive tints in which
the moth is chiefly clothed that suggested the name modesta
for it, but it is one of the most beautiful of our Hawk-moths.
The body and basal third of the fore wings are pale olive ;
the outer third of the fore wings is a darker shade of the
same color ; while the middle third is still darker (Fig. 409).

Fig. 409 — Marumba modesta .

The hind wings are dull carmine-red in the middle ; there
is a bluish-gray patch with a curved black streak over it
near the anal angle. The larva feeds on poplar and cotton¬
wood. When full grown it is three inches long, of a pale
green color, and coarsely granulated, the granules studded
with fine white points, giving the skin a frosted appearance.

The Twin-spotted Sphinx, Smerinthus geminatus (Sme-
rin'thus gem-i-na'-
tus). — This exquis¬
itely colored moth
expands about two
and one half inches.

The thorax is gray
with a velvety dark
brown spot in the
middle. The fore
wipgs are gray, with a faint rosy tmt in some specimens,

334

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

and tipped and banded with brown as shown In Figure
410. The hind wings are deep carmine at the middle, and
are bordered with pale tan or gray. Near the anal angle
there is a large black spot in which there is a pair of blue
spots, which suggested the name geminatus . The larva
feeds upon the leaves of apple, plum, elm, ash, and willow.

Harris’s Sphinx, Ellema harrisii (El-le'ma har-ris'i-i). — >
This sphinx has interested us chiefly on account of the
habits and markings of its larva (Fig. 41 1). It feeds upon
the foliage of pine, and is colored with
alternating green and white longitudi¬
nal strips ; the dorsal stripe is green
spotted with red. It has a way of
hanging head dowrfward in a pine tas¬
sel that conceals it entirely from the
sight of all but very sharp eyes, its
stripes giving a close resemblance to
a bunch of pine leaves. The moth ex¬
pands about two inches ; it is gray with
the fore wings marked by several series
of small brown spots.

The Pen marked Sphinx, Sphinx
chcrsis (Sphinx cher'sis). — This moth is
of an almost evenly distributed ashy-
gray color. This sombre color is relieved
somewhat by a black band on each
side of the abdomen, marked with four
or five white transverse bars ; by two
dark brown, smoky bands which cross
the hind wings ; and by a series of black
dashes on the fore wings, one in each
cell between the apex of the wing and the anal vein. These
dashes appear as if drawn casually with a pen. The larva (Fig.
408) is not uncommon upon ash and lilac ; it is greenish
or bluish white above, and darker below ; there are seven
oblique yellow bands on the sides of the body, each edged

Fig. 41 1. — Ellema harrisii \
larva.

LEPIDOPTERA.

335

above with dark green. When disturbed it assumes the
threatening attitude shown in the figure.

The Tomato-worm, Phlegethontius celeus (Phleg-e-thon'-
ti-us ce'le-us). — This larva is the best known of all our
Sphinxes, as it may be found feeding on the leaves of
tomato, tobacco, or potato wherever these plants are grown
in our country. It resembles in its general appearance the
larva of Sphinx chersis (Fig. 408); but its favorite attitude
is with the fore end of the body slightly raised. It is usu¬
ally green, but individuals are often found that are brown,
or even black. There appear at frequent intervals in the
newspapers accounts of people being injured by a poison
excreted by the caudal horn of this larva ; but there is
absolutely no foundation whatever for such stories. The
pupa (Fig. 412) is often ploughed up in gardens, and attracts
attention on account of
its curious tongue-case,
which is free, resembling
the handle of a pitcher.

The moth is a superb
creature, expanding four F,c' **«'•

or five inches. It is of many delicate shades of ash-gray,
marked with black or very dark gray ; there are a few short
black dashes on the fore part of the thorax, and some irregular
black spots edged with white on the posterior part ; the
abdomen is gray with a black middle line, and five yellow,
almost square spots along each side. Each of these spots is
bordered with black, and has a white spot above and be¬
low, on the edge of the segment. The hind wings are
crossed by four blackish lines, of which the two interme¬
diate are zigzag.

The Tobacco-worm, Phlegethontius Carolina (Phleg-e-thon'-
ti-us car-o-li'na). — This species closely resembles the preced¬
ing, and the two are often mistaken the one for the other.
The larvae have similar habits, feeding on the same plants.
But the moths are easily distinguished. This species is brown-

336

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

ish gray instead of ashy gray ; at the end of the discal cell of
the fore wings there is a distinct white spot; and the two
dark bands crossing the middle of the hind wings are not
zigzag, and are less distinctly separate ; often they are
united into a single broad band.

The Hog-caterpillar of the Vine, Ampelophaga myron
(Am-pe-loph'a-ga my'ron). — There is a group of Hawk
moths the larvae of which have the head and first two
thoracic segments small, while the two following segments
are greatly swollen. These larvae from a fancied resemblance
to fat swine have been termed Hog-caterpillars; and the
present species, which is common on grape, has been named
the Hog-caterpillar of the Vine. It is a comparatively
small species, the full-grown larva being but little more
than two inches long. There is a row of seven spots varying
in color from red to pale lilac, each set in a patch of pale

yellow, along the middle of
the back. A white stripe with
dark green margins extends
along the side from the head

Fig. 413. — A tnpclofihaga n.yron, larva with t0 tlle CaUtlal ll0rn> and be'

cocoons 01 parasites. low tliis are seven oblique

stripes. This larva is often infested by Braconid parasites ;
and it is a common occurrence to find one of them with the
cocoons of the parasites attached to it (Fig. 413). The
pupa state is passed on the surface of the ground within a
rude cocoon made by fastening leaves together with loose
silken threads. The adult expands about two and one
fourth inches. The fore wings are olive-gray, with a curved,
olive-green, oblique band crossing the basal third, a discal
point of the same color, and beyond this a large triangular
spot with its apex on the costa and its base on the inner
margin.

The Pandorus Sphinx, Philampclus pandoras (Phi-lam'pe-
lus pan-do'rus). — This magnificent moth expands from four
to four and one half inches. The ground-color of its wings

LEPIDOPTERA.

337

is pale olive, verging in some places into gray ; the markings
consist of patches and stripes of dark, rich velvety olive,
sometimes almost black (Fig. 414). Near the inner margins
of both pairs of wings the lighter color shades out into pale
yellow, which is tinged in places with delicate rose-color.

These markings show a harmony of contrasting shades
rarely equalled elsewhere by nature or art. The larva is
one of the Hog-caterpillars. It feeds upon the leaves of
Virginia-creeper. When young it is pinkish in color, and
has a long pinkish caudal horn ; as it matures it changes to
a reddish brown, and the horn shoitens and curls up like
a dog’s tail and finally disappears, leaving an eye-like tuber¬
cle. The caterpillar has on each side six cream-colored oval
spots, enveloping the spiracles.

The White-lined Sphinx, Deileplnla lineata (Dei-Ieph'i-la
lin-e-a'ta). — This moth can be easily recognized by Figure
415. Its body and fore wings are olive-brown; there are
three parallel white stripes along each side of the thorax ;
the outer one of these extends forward over the eyes to the
base of the palpi ; on the fore wings there is a buff stripe
extending from near the base of the inner margin to the
apex, and veins IIIS to IX are lined with white; the hind

23

33§

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

wings are black with a central reddish band. The larva is
extremely variable in color and markings. It feeds on many
plants, among which arc apple, grape, plum, and currant.

Fig. 415. — Deilephila litieata.

The Thysbe Clear-wing, Hemaris thysbe (He-ma'ris
thys'be). — There is a group of Hawk-moths that have the
middle portion of the wings transparent, resembling in
this respect the Sesiidse and certain Zygaenids; but they

are easily recognized as Hawk-
moths by the form of the
body, wings, and antennae.
One of the more common of
these is the Thysbe Clear-
wing (Fig. 416). The scaled
portions of the wings are of a
dark reddish brown ; but this

Fig. 416. — Hemaris thysbe. • • .

species is most easily distin¬
guished from our other common species by a line of scales
dividing the discal cell lengthwise and representing the po¬
sition of the base of vein V. The larva of this species feeds
on the different species of Viburnum, the snowberry, and
hawthorn.

The Bumblebee Hawk-moth, Hemaris diffinis (He-ma'ris
dif-fi'nis). — This Clear-wing appears to be about as common

I

LEPIDOPTERA .

339

as the preceding, and resembles it somewhat. It lacks,
however, the line of scales in the discal cell, and the body
is more nearly yellow. This color probably suggested the
name Bumblebee Hawk-moth, given to this insect nearly
one hundred years ago by Smith and Abbot. The larva
feeds on the bush honeysuckle ( Diervilld ) and the snow-
berry ( Symphoricarpus ).

Superfamily SATURNIINA (Sa-tur-ni-i'na).

The Saturnians (Sa-tur'ni-ans).

The group of families constituting the superfamily Sa-
turniina includes the largest of our native moths ; in fact
nearly all of our very large moths belong to it ; but it also
includes a considerable number of species of moderate size.

These moths are most easily distinguished from other
moths by the structure
of the wings (Fig. 417).

Here, as with the Skip¬
pers and the Butterflies,
the frenulum is lost (or
nearly so in the low¬
est family), and its place
is taken by a greatly ex¬
panded humeral angle
of the hind wing, which,
projecting under the
fore wing, insures the
acting together of the
two in flight without the
aid of a frenulum. This
losing of the frenulum
is also characteristic of
the Lasiocampidae. But
the Saturnians differ „

# Fig. 417. — Wings of Citheronia regalis%

from this family in that

vein V, arises midway between radius and cubitus, or is

340

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

more closely united to radius than to cubitus, leaving the
latter apparently three-branched ; while in the Lasiocampidae
cubitus appears to be four-branched.

This superfamily includes the Bombycidae which are
represented in this country only by the Chinese Silkworm
and three families of native moths. These can be separated
by the following table : —

A. Vein Va of the fore wings arising midway between veins V! and

V«». p. 340 . . Bombycidae.

AA. Vein Va of the fore wings arising nearer to vein Vi than to vein
V3.

B. Hind wings with two anal veins.

C. The stalk of veins Vi and Va of the fore wings separating
from radius before the end of the discal cell (Fig. 420, c. v.).

p- 342 . Hemileucidae.

CC. Vein Vi of the fore wings separating from radius beyond the
apex of the discal cell.

D. Veins Vi and Va of the hind wings joined to radius by a dis¬
tinct stalk (Fig. 417, c. v.). p. 343 Citheroniidae.

DD. Vein Vi and Va of the hind wings not stalked ( Coloradia ).

P- 35° . Saturniidae.

BB. Hind wings with only one anal vein. p. 350. . .Saturniidae.

Family B0MBYCIDA2 (Bom-byc'i-dae).

The Silk-worm.

The Bombycidae as now restricted are not represented in

our fauna ; but a single
species, the Silk-worm, is
frequently bred in this
country, and is usually
present in collections of
Lepidoptera.

The Silk-worm, Bombyx
mori (Bom'byx mo'ri). —
The moth (Fig. 418) is of a
cream-color with two or
three more or less distinct brownish lines across the fore

Fig. 418 .—Bombyx mori .

ZEjP/DOPTERA.

341

wings and sometimes a faint double bar at the end of the
discal ceil. The head is small; the antennae are pectinated
broadly in both sexes ; and the ocelli, palpi, and maxillae
are wanting. The abdomen and thorax are densely clothed
with woolly hair. The distinctive feature in the venation of
the wings (Fig. 419) is the obvious presence of vein I on the
hind wings.

The usual food of the Silk-worm is the leaf of the mul¬
berry. Our native species, however, are not suitable. The
species that are
most used are the
white mulberry
( Morns alba), of
which there are
several varieties,
and the black mul¬
berry ( Morns ni¬
gra ); the former is
the better. The
leaves of osage
orange ( Maclura
aurantiaca) have
also been used as
silk-worm food to
a considerable ex¬
tent. In case silk¬
worms hatch in the
springbefore either
mulberry or osage-
orange leaves can
be obtained, they
may be quite sue- Fig. 419.— Wings of Bombyx tnort.

cessfully fed, for a few days, upon lettuce-leaves.

The newly-hatched larva is black or dark gray, and is
covered with iong stiff hairs, which spring from pale-colored
tubercles. The hairs and tubercles are not noticeable after

342

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

the first molt, and the worm becomes lighter and lighter,
until in the last larval period it is of a cream-white color.
There is a prominent tubercle on the back of the eighth ab¬
dominal segment, resembling those borne by certain larvae of
the Sphingidse.

There are many special treatises on this insect, some of
which should be consulted by any one intending to raise silk¬
worms.

Family Hemileucioe (Hem-i-leu'ci-dae).

The Hemileucids ( Hem-i-leii'cids ).

This is a small family containing rather large and con¬
spicuously marked insects. The antennae are broadly pec¬
tinated in the males and narrowly so or nearly serrate in the

females. There is only a
single pair of teeth to each
segment of the antennae.
The thorax and abdomen
are usually thickly clothed
with long woolly hair; but
in some species the cloth¬
ing of the antennae is less
woolly and more scale-like.
As to the wings, the frenu¬
lum is wanting, the humer¬
al angle of the hind wings
being largely developed
(Fig. 420) ; and in both
fore and hind wings veins
Vx and V2 are joined to
radius by a common stalk.

Our best-known repre¬
sentative is the Maia-moth,
Hemileuca maia (Hem-i-leu'ca ma'i-a). In this species (Fig.
421) the wings are thinly scaled, sometimes semi-transparent;

Fig. 420.— Wings of Hemileuca maia.

Plate IV

LEPIDOPTERA.

343

they are black with a common white band near their

middle ; and the discal
veins are usually white
and broadly bordered with
black. There are great
variations in the width of
the white band on the
wings. The larva feeds on
the leaves of oak ; it is
brownish black, with a lat¬
eral yellow stripe ; and is
armed on each segment with large branching spines. This
species pertains to the eastern part of the continent ; but
there are several western species belonging to the genus.

In the West there occur also two species of the genus
Pseudohazis (Pseu-do-ha'zis). These are P. hera (P. he'ra), in
which the ground-color of the wings is white (Plate IV), and
P . eglanterina (P. eg-lan-te-ri'na), in which the ground-color
is brown. Both species are spotted and striped with black.
In each the abdomen is ringed with black; there is a large
discal spot on each wing, which frequently has a white center
due to white scales borne by the discal vein. The base of
the wings is dusky. There is a transverse band at the end
of the basal third, which is sometimes wanting on the hind
wings ; and a broader, wavy, transverse band crossing both
wings at the end of the basal two thirds ; and on each wing
there is a series of six or seven triangular black spots situ¬
ated on the ends of the veins, at the outer margin of the
wing. It should be said that both in the ground-color and
in the markings these two forms vary much ; and it is possi¬
ble that they are merely varieties of one species.

Family ClTIIERONllD^E (Cith-e-ro-ni'i-das).

The Royal-moths.

The Royal-moths are stout-bodied and hairy, with sunken
heads and strong wings. The species are of medium or large

344

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

size, some of them being nearly as large as the largest of our
moths. The most obvious character limiting this family is
the structure of the antennae of the male. These agree with
those of the Saturniidae in having two pairs of teeth to each
segment, but differ in being pectinated for only a little more
than half their length. These moths also differ from most
Saturniidae in having two anal veins in the hind wings. Al¬
though the antennae of the male are broadly pectinated,
those of the female are filiform. The palpi and maxillae are
very small. The thorax and abdomen are densely clothed

with long hairs. The wings are strong, with prominent veins.
The frenulum is wanting, and the humeral angle of the hind
wings is very largely developed. In the fore wings vein V,
arises from the discal vein (Figs. 422, 423).

The larvae are armed with horns or spines, of which
those on the second thoracic segment, and sometimes also

LEPIDOP TERAL.

345

34-6

THE STUDY OF INSECTS, .

those on the third, are long and curved. These caterpillars
eat the leaves of forest-trees, and go into the ground to trans¬
form, which they do without making cocoons. The rings of
the pupa bear little notched ridges, the teeth of which, to¬
gether with some strong prickles at the hinder end of the
body, assist it in forcing its way upwards out of the earth.

This is a small family ; it is not represented in Europe,
and less than twenty species are known to occur in this
country. The more common ones are the following: —

The Regal-moth, Citheronia regalis (Cith-e-ro'ni-a re-ga'-
lis). — This is the largest and most magnificent of the Royal-
moths (Fig. 424). The fore wings are olive-colored, spotted
with yellow, and with the veins heavily bordered with red
scales. The hind wings are orange-red, spotted with yellow,
and with a more or less distinctly marked band outside the
middle olive. The wings expand from four to six inches.

When fully grown the larva measures from four to five
inches in length. It is our largest caterpillar, and can be
readily recognized by the very long spiny horns with which
it is armed. Those of the mesothorax and metathorax are
much longer than the others. Of these there are four on
each segment; the intermediate ones measure about three
fifths inch in length. This larva feeds on various trees and
shrubs.

The Imperial-moth, Basilona imperialis (Bas-i-lo'na im-
pe-ri-a'lis). — This moth rivals the preceding species in
size, expanding from four to five and one half inches. It
is sulphur-yellow, banded and speckled with purplish brown.
The full-grown larva (Fig. 425) measures from three to
four inches in length. It is thinly clothed with long
hairs, and bears prominent spiny horns on the second and
third thoracic segments. In the early larval stages these
thoracic horns are very long and spiny, resembling those of
the larva of the Regal-moth. The larva feeds on hickory
butternut, and other forest-trees.

The Two-colored Royal-moth, Sphingicampa bicolor

LEPIDOPTERA .

347

(Sphin-gi-cam'pa bi'co-lor). — In this species the upper side
of the fore wings and the under side of the hind wings are
yellowish brown, speckled with black. The under side of the
fore wings and the upper side of the hind wings are to a con-

Fig. 425. — Basilona imperialist larva.

siderable extent pink. There is usually a dark discal spot
on the fore wings, upon which, especially in the males, there
may be two white dots. This species is more common in
the Southern States than in the North. The expanse of
wings in the male is two inches; in the female, two and one
half inches. The larva feeds on the leaves of the Honey-
locust and of the Kentucky Coffee-tree.

Anisota (An-i-so'ta). — To the genus Anisota belong three
species of moths that occur in the Eastern United States.
These moths are dark yellow, purplish red, or brownish in
color, and agree in having the fore wings marked with a
white discal dot. The larvae feed on the leaves of oak; they
are more or less striped and are armed with spines. These
insects hibernate as pupae.

In determining these moths the student should remem¬
ber that the two sexes of the same species may differ more
in appearance than do individuals of different species but of
the same sex. The sexes can be distinguished, as already
indicated, by the antennae. The three species can be sepa¬
rated as follows: —

34«

THE STUD V OF INSECTS .

The Rosy-striped Oak-worm, Anisota virginiensis (A. vir-
gin-i-en'sis). — The wings of the female are purplish red,
blended with ochre-yellow ; they are very thinly scaled, and
consequently almost transparent ; and are not speckled with
small dark spots (Fig. 426). The wings of the male are

Fig. 426. — Anisota virginiensis% female. male.

purplish brown, with a large transparent space on the middle
(Fig. 427). The larva is of an obscure gray or greenish color,
with dull brownish yellow or rosy stripes, and with its skin
rough with small white warts. There is a row of short spines
on each segment, and two long spines on the mesothorax.

The Orange-striped Oak-worm, Anisota senatoria (A. sen-
a-to'ri-a). — The wings of the female are more thickly scaled
than in the preceding species and are sprinkled with numer¬
ous blackish dots ; in other respects the two are quite similar
in coloring. The male differs from that of A. virginiensis
in lacking the large transparent space on the middle of the
wings. The larva is black, with four orange-yellow stripes
on the back and two along each side; its spines are similar
to those of the preceding species.

The Spiny Oak-worm, Anisota stigma (A. stig'ma). — The
female closely resembles that of A. senatoria; and as both
species are variable it is sometimes difficult to determine
to which a given specimen belongs. In A. stigma the wings
are rather darker and have a greater number of blackish spots,
and the hind wings are furnished with a middle band which
is heavier and more distinct than in A . senatoria . The male
differs from that of the other two species in quite closely

L EP ID 01J TKRA •

349

resembling the female in coloring, and in having the wings
speckled. The larva differs from the other species of Ani-
sota in having long spines on the dorsal aspect of the third
thoracic and each abdominal segment in addition to the
much longer spines on the mesothorax. It is of a bright
tawny or orange color, with a dusky stripe along its back
and dusky bands along its sides.

The Rosy Dryocampa, Dryocampa rubicunda (Dry-o-
cnm'pa ru-bi-cun'da). — The wings of this moth (Fig. 428)
are pale yellow, banded
with rose-color. The dis¬
tribution of the color varies
greatly in different speci¬
mens. In some the pink
of the fore wings predomi¬
nates, the yellow being re¬
duced to a broad discal
band, while in one variety
the ground-color is yellowish white and the pink is reduced
to a shade at the base and a narrow stripe outside the mid¬
dle. The hind wings may be entirely yellow, or may have a
pink band outside the middle. The expanse of wings in
the male is one and one half to one and three fourths inches ;
in the female, two inches or more.

The larva of this species is known as the Green-striped
Maple-worm, and is sometimes a serious pest on soft-maple
shade-trees. It measures when full grown about one and
one half inches. It is pale yellowish green, striped above
with eight very light, yellowish-green lines, alternating with
seven of a darker green, inclining to black. There are two
prominent horns on the second thoracic segment, and two
rows of spines on each side of the body, one above and one
below the spiracles. And on the eighth and ninth abdomi¬
nal segments there are four prominent dorsal spines. The
species is one- or two-brooded, and winters in the pupa
state.

Fig. 428. — Dryocampa rubicunda.

350

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Family SATURNIID^: (Sat-ur-ni'i-dae).

The Giant Silk-worms.

The large size of the members of the Saturniidae, and the
ease with which the cocoons of most of the species can be
collected, render them well known to every beginner in the
study of entomology. The family includes our largest lepi-
dopterous insects ; and all of the species known to us are
above medium size. They are stout-bodied, hairy moths,
with more or less sunken heads, and strong, wide wings.
They may be distinguished from the Citheroniidae, some
of which rival them in size, by the form of the antennae of
the males, and by the fact that except in the lowest genus,
Coloraduiy which is a rare insect from the far West, the

hind wings are furnished
ii^nij with only one inner vein.
11X4 The adults fly at night, and
are attracted by lights.

The head is small and
deeply sunken in the thorax;
the antennas are either fili¬
form or pectinated in the
females, but always pecti¬
nated in the males ; and the
pectinations extend to the
tip. Where the antennae of
both sexes are pectinated,
the males can be distin¬
guished by the larger size of
their antennae. The palpi
are small, and the maxillae
but little developed, often
obsolete.

The thorax is densely clothed with hair. The wings are
broad, and are often furnished with transparent, window¬
like spots. The frenulum is wanting. The humeral angle

Fig. 429. — Wings of Sarnia cccropia

LEPIDOPTERA . 35 1

oi the hind wing is largely developed, and is usually strength¬
ened by a deep furrow, the bottom of which is sometimes
thickened so as to appear like a humeral vein (Fig. 429).

The larvae live exposed on the leaves of trees and shrubs ;
they are more or less armed with tubercles and spines, and
are very conspicuous on account of their large size. They
transform within silken cocoons, which are usually very
dense, and in some cases have been utilized by man. These
cocoons are often attached to trees and shrubs, and are
sometimes inclosed in a leaf. They can be easily collected
during the winter months, and the adults bred from them.

The following species are those that the young student
is most likely to find : —

The Io-moth, Automeris io (Au-tom'e-ris i'o). — This
is the most common of the smaller species of the family.
The female is represented by Figure 430. In this sex the

Fig- 430. — Automeris io.

ground-color of the fore wings is purplish red. The male
differs greatly in appearance from the female, being some¬
what smaller and of a deep yellow color, but it can be easily
recognized by its general resemblance to the female in other
respects.

The larva is one that the student should learn to reco£-
nize in order that he may avoid handling it ; for it is armed

352

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

with spines the prick of which is venomous (Fig. 431). It

is green, with a broad
brown or reddish stripe,
edged below with white,
on each side of the abdo.
men. The spines are

Fig. 43*-— Automeris to, larva. tipped with black.

The Polyphemus-moth, Tclca polyphemus (Te'le-a pol-y-
phe'mus). — This is a yellowish or brownish moth with a
window-like spot in each wing. There is a gray band on
the costal margin of the fore wings ; and near the outer mar¬
gin of both pairs of wings there is a dusky band, edged

Fig. 432. — Telea polyphemus, larva.

without with pink ; the fore wings are crossed by a broken
dusky or reddish line near the base, edged within with white
or pink. The transparent spot on each wing is divided by
the discal vein, and encircled by yellow and black rings.

Plate V

LEP1DOP TER A .

353

On the hind wings the black surrounding the transparent
spot is much widened, especially toward the base of the
wing, and is sprinkled with blue scales. The wings expand
from five to six inches.

The larva (Fig. 432) feeds on oak, butternut, basswood,
elm, maple, apple, plum, and other trees. When full grown
it measures three inches or more in length. It is of a light
green color with an oblique yellow line on each side of each
abdominal segment except the first and last ; the last segment
is bordered by a purplish-brown V-shaped mark. The
tubercles on the body are small, of an orange color with me¬
tallic reflections. The co¬
coon (Fig. 433) is dense
and usually enclosed in a
leaf ; it can be utilized for
the manufacture of silk.

When the adult is ready
to emerge, it excretes a
fluid which softens the
cocoon at one end, and f.g. ^.-T.ua *&**"“*

breaking the threads it makes its exit through a large round
hole.

The Luna Moth, Tropcea lima (Tro-pas'a lu'na). — This
magnificent moth is a great favorite with amateur collectors
(Plate V). Its wings are of a delicate light green color, with
a purple-brown band on the costa of the fore wings ; there is
an eye-like spot with a transparent center on the discal
vein of each wing; and the anal angle of the hind wings is
greatly prolonged. The larva feeds on the leaves of wal¬
nut, hickory, and other forest-trees. It measures when full
grown about three inches in length. It is pale bluish green
with a pearl-colored head. It has a pale yellow stripe along
each side of the body, and a transverse yellow line on the
back between each two abdominal segments. The cocoon
resembles that of the preceding species in form, but is very

thin, containing but little silk,

24

354

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

The Promethea Moth, Callosamia promethea (Cal-lo-sa'mi-a
pro-me'the-a). — This is the most common of the Giant Silk,
worms. The wings of the female (Fig. 434) are light reddish

Fig. 434. — Callosamia promethea^ female.

brown ; the transverse line crossing the middle of the wings is
whitish, bordered within with black ; the outer margin of the
wings is clay-colored, and each wing bears an angular discal
spot. The discal spots vary in size and distinctness in different
specimens. The male differs so greatly from the female that
it is liable to be mistaken for a distinct species. It is black¬
ish, with the transverse lines very faint, and with the discal
spots wanting or very faintly indicated. The fore wings also
differ markedly in shape from those of the female, the apex
being much more distinctly sickle-shaped. The larva when
full grown measures two inches or more in length. It is of
a clear and pale bluish-green color ; the legs and anal shield
are yellowish ; and the body is armed with longitudinal rows
of tubercles. The tubercles are black, polished, wart-like
elevations, excepting two each on the second and third
thoracic segments, which are larger and rich coral-red, and
one similar in size to these but of a yellow color on the
eighth abdominal segment. This larva feeds on the leaves

LEPIDOPTERA .

355

of a large proportion of our common fruit and forest trees;
but we have found it more frequently on wild cherry and
ash than on others. The cocoons can be easily collected
during the winter from these trees. This is the best way to
obtain fresh specimens of the moths, which will emerge from
the cocoons in the spring or early summer. The cocoon
(Fig. 435) is interesting in structure. It is greatly elongated
and is enclosed in a leaf, the
petiole of which is securely fast¬
ened to the branch by a band
of silk extending from the co¬
coon ; thus the leaf and enclosed
cocoon hang upon the tree
throughout the winter. At the
upper end of the cocoon there
is a conical valve like arrange¬
ment which allows the adult to
emerge without the necessity
of making a hole through the
cocoon. This structure is char¬
acteristic of the cocoons of the
moths of this and the following
genus.

The Angulifera Moth, Callo-
samia angulifera (C. an-gu-lif'e-
ra). — This is a somewhat rare in¬
sect which so closely resembles
the Promethea Moth that by
many it is considered a variety
of it. Specimens of it are usu¬
ally a little larger than those of
Q. promethea, and the transverse
line and discal spots are more
angular. The most important

* Fig. 435.— Callosamia promethea, cococa

differences, however, are pre¬
sented by the male, which quite closely resembles the female

356

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

of the Promethea Moth in color and markings, and thus
differs decidedly from the male of that species.

The Cecropia Moth, Sarnia cecropia (Sa'mi-a ce-cro'pi-a). —
This is the largest of our Giant Silk-worms, the wings of the
adult expanding from five to six and one half inches. The
ground color of the wings is a grizzled dusky brown, espe¬
cially on the central area. The wings are crossed beyond the
middle by a white band, which is broadly margined without
with red, and there is a red spot near the apex of the fore
wing just outside of a zigzag line. Each wing bears near
its center a crescent-shaped white spot bordered with red.
The outer margin of the wings is clay-colored. The larva
is known to feed on at least fifty species of plants, including
apple, plum, and the more common forest trees. When full
grown it measures from three to four inches in length and is
dull bluish green in color. The body is armed with six rows
of tubercles, extending nearly its entire length, and there is

an additional short row on each
side on the ventral aspect of
the first five segments follow¬
ing the head. The tubercles on
the second and third thoracic
_ , o . segments are larger than the

FIG. 43 6.— Sarnia cecropia t pupa. , , „

others, and are coral-red. the
other dorsal tubercles are yellow, excepting those of the first
thoracic and last abdominal segments, which with the lateral
tubercles are blue ; all are armed with black bristles. The

Fig. 437 .—Samia cecropia , cocoon.

LEPIDOPTERA.

357

pupa is represented by Figure 436 and the cocoon by Figure

437.

The Cecropia-moth occurs from the Atlantic coast to the
Rocky Mountains. In the far West its place is taken by
very closely allied forms, which are supposed to be distinct.
In these the ground-color of the wings is usually a reddish
or dusky brown. The form occurring in Utah and Arizona
is Sarnia gloveri (S. glov'er-i) ; that found on the Pacific
coast is Sarnia calif ornica .

The Ailanthus-worm, Philosamia cynthia (Phil-o-sa'mi-a
cyn'thi-a), is an Asiatic species that has been introduced into
this country. It has become a pest in the vicinity of New York,
where it infests the Ailanthus shade-trees. The moth differs
from all our native species of this family in having rows of
tufts of white hairs on the abdomen. The cocoon resembles
that of the Promethea-moth.

Family Lacosomid^e (Lac-o-som'i-dae).

The Sack-bearuig Frenulum- losers.

This family so far as is now known includes only two
species that are found in the United States, and both of
these are rare ; farther south several other species occur.
They are our only native Frenulum-losers that retain a rudi¬
ment of the frenulum, but, as in the silk-worm, this frenulum
is very small and the humeral angle is greatly expanded, so
it is probable that the frenulum is of but little if any use
(Fig. 438). It was the presence of this rudiment that first
suggested to the writer that those families of the Lepidop-
tera that we have termed Frenulum-losers were descended
from frenulum-bearing ancestors.

The Lacosomidae seem to be the sole survivors of a very
distinct line of descent. In many respects they appear to
be closely allied to the Saturniina, especially to the Bom-
bycidae. But they differ markedly both in the structure and
in the habits of the larvae ; and, too, the wings of the adult,

358

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

although at first sight resembling those of the silk-worm, are

nr,

really quite different.
In the coalescence of
the branches of ra¬
dius of the fore wings
veins III, and III4
remain separate,
while in the Satur-
niina these are the
first branches to coa¬
lesce. And in the
hind wings there is
no indication that
vein I becomes joined
to the base of vein
II as is shown to be
the case in the most
generalized Satur-
niina (Figs. 417 and
419).

The members of

Fig. 438.— Wings of Cicinnus tnelskeimerii. this family in the lar¬

val state feed upon leaves, and protect themselves by mak¬
ing a case of leaves within which they live (Fig. 439).

Fig. 439.— Case of larva of
Cicinnus.

Fig. 440. — Cicinnus tnelskeimerii.

Melsheimer’s Sack-bearer, Cicinnus melsheimerii (Ci-cin'-
nus mels-hei-me'ri-i). — The larva of this species feeds on oak.
The adult moth (Fig. 440) .is of a reddish gray color, finely
sprinkled all over with minute black dots; there is a small
black spot at the end of the discal cell of the fore wings ;

LEPIDOPTERA.

359

and both pairs of wings are crossed by a narrow blackish
band. This species is quite widely distributed ; but is quite
rare in most places.

The other representative of this family found in the
United States is Lacosoma chiridota (Lac-o-so'ma chir-i-do-
ta). This species is even more rare than the preceding; it is
somewhat smaller, and dark yellowish brown in color ; but
its general appearance is very similar. The venation of the
wings is also similar to that of Cicinnus except that vein
VIII of the hind wing is wanting.

Family LASIOCAMPID^E (Las-i-o-cam'pi-dae).

The Lasiocampids {Las- i-o-ca m ' p ids) .

This family includes the Tent caterpillars and the Lap¬
pet-caterpillars. The adults are stout-bodied, hairy moths of
medium size. The antennae
are pectinated in both sexes,
and are from one fourth to
one half as long as the front
wings; the teeth of the an¬
tennae of the male are usu¬
ally much longer than those
of the female. The ocelli are
wanting ; and the palpi are
usually short and woolly.

But the most distinctive char¬
acteristic is found in the
wings. The frenulum is want¬
ing, there being instead, as
in the Saturniina, a largely-
expanded humeral angle of
the hind wings. But these
moths differ from the Satur¬
niina in having CUbitUS ap- F,c- 44*-— Wings of Clisiocatufa americana.

parently four-branched and in having the humeral angle

360

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

strengthened by the development of some extra veins, the
humeral veins (Fig. 441, h. v.).*

The larvae of the Lasiocampids feed upon the foliage of
trees, and are frequently very destructive.

The family is a small one, less than thirty North Ameri¬
can species being known to entomologists. Our more com¬
mon ones represent three genera : Clisiocampa (Clis-i-o-cam'-
pa), which includes the Tent-caterpillars, and Phyllodesma
(Phyl-lo-des'ma) and Tolype (Tol'y-pe), which include the
Lappet-caterpillars.

There are several species of Tent-caterpillars in this
country. Most of them belong to the Pacific coast; but
two are common in the East. Of these the most com¬
mon one is the Apple-tree Tent -caterpillar, Clisiocampa
americana (C. a-mer-i-ca'na). This is the insect that builds
large webs in apple and wild cherry trees in early spring.
Figure 442 represents its transformations. The moth is dull
yellowish brown or reddish brown, with two transverse
whitish or pale yellowish lines on the fore wings. The
figure represents a male; the female is somewhat larger.
These moths appear early in the summer. The eggs are
soon laid, each female laying all her eggs in a single ring-like
cluster about a twig; and here they remain unhatched for
about nine months. This cluster is covered with a substance
which protects it during the winter. The eggs hatch in
early spring, at the time or just before the leaves appear.
The larvae that hatch early feed upon the unopened buds
till the leaves expand. The larvae are social, the entire
brood that hatch from a cluster of eggs keeping together
and building a tent in which they live when not feeding.
The figure represents a specimen in our collection. In this
case the tent was begun near the cluster of eggs. But usu-

* So far as we know, humeral veins occur nowhere else in the Lepidoptera,
although in many butterflies vein I of the hind wings is preserved and
appears like a humeral vein. The humeral veins of the Lasiocampidse do not
represent any of the primitive veins, but are developed secondarily.

LEPIDOPTERA.

36l

ally the larvae soon after hatching migrate down the branch
towards the trunk of the tree until a fork of considerable
size is reached before they begin their tent. This is neces¬
sary* as the completed tent often measures two feet or more
in length. 1 he larvae leave the nest daily in order to feed ;
and spin a silken thread wherever they go. The larvae be-

Fig. 442. — Clisiocantpa americana , eggs, tent, larva, cocoons, and adult.

come full grown early in June ; one of them is represented
on a partially-eaten leaf in the figure. When ready to
transform they leave the trees and make their cocoons in
some sheltered place. These cocoons are quite peculiar in
appearance, having a yellowish white powder mixed with
the silk. The pupa state lasts about three weeks.

The easiest way to fight this pest is to destroy the webs
containing the larvae as soon as they appear in the spring.
This should be done early in the morning, or late in the

362

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

afternoon, or on a cold day, when the larvae are not scat¬
tered over the tree feeding.

The other Eastern species of this genus is the Tent-cater¬
pillar of the Forest, Clisiocampa disstria (C. dis'stri-a). This
species resembles the preceding in habits. It is more apt,
however, to feed upon forest-trees. The moth differs from
C. americana in having the oblique lines on the wings dark
instead of light; the larva differs in having a row of spots
along the back instead of a continuous narrow line; and
the egg-masses differ in ending squarely instead of being
rounded at each end.

The more common species of the Pacific coast are Clisio¬
campa calif ornica , whose nests may be found on oaks in
March and April, and Clisiocampa constricta , which infests
fruit-trees later in the season. The caterpillars of the last-
named species do not make a tent, although they live in
colonies.

The larvae of Tolype and Phyllodesnta are remarkable for
having on each side of each segment a little lappet or flat
lobe; from these many long hairs are given out, forming a
fringe to the body. When at rest the body of the larva is
flattened, and the fringes on the sides are closely applied to
the surface of the limb on which the insect is. Thus all ap¬
pearance of an abrupt elevation is obliterated ; the colors
of these larvae are also protective, resembling those of the
bark.

The genus Tolype includes only two common North

American species ; both of these
occur in the East. The more com¬
mon of the two is the Velleda
Lappet, Tolype velleda (Tol'y-pe
vel'le-da). The body of the moth
is milk-white, with a large black¬
ish spot on the middle of its back
(Fig. 443). That part of this spot
which is on the thorax is composed of erect scales; the cau-

Fig. 443. — Tolype velleda.

LEPIDOPTERA .

3^3

dal part, of recumbent hairs. The wings are dusky gray,
crossed by white lines as shown in the figure. The figure
represents the male ; the female is much larger. The moths
are found in August and September. The larva feeds upon
the leaves of apple, poplar, and syringa. Its body is bluish
gray, with many faint longitudinal lines ; and across the back
of the last thoracic segment there is a narrow velvety-black
band. The larva reaches maturity during July. The cocoon
is brownish gray, and is usually attached to one of the
branches of the tree on which the larva has fed.

The second species of this genus is known as the Larch
Lappet, Tolype laricis (T. lar'i-cis). This is a smaller species,
the females being about the size of the male of the preced¬
ing species, and the males expanding only about one and
one fourth inches. The wings of the females are marked
much like those of T. velleda , except that the basal two
thirds of the front wings are much lighter, and the dark
band on the outer third is narrower and much darker than
the other dark bands. The males are bluish black, with the
markings indistinct. The larva feeds upon the larch. When
mature it is of a dull brown color and less than one and one
half inches in length. When extended the front of the first
thoracic segment is pale green, and the incision between
the second and third is shining black. The larva matures
during July. The cocoon is ash-gray, flattened and moulded
to the limb to which it is attached, and partially surround¬
ing it. The moths appear in August or September. The
winter is passed in the egg state.

The genus Phyllodesma includes
three Californian and two Eastern
species. The more common one of
the latter is the American Lappet,

P. americana (Fig. 444). The moth
is reddish brown, with the inner angle FlG. 444
of the front wings and the costal
margin of the hind wings deeply notched. Beyond the mid

—Phyllodesma ameri¬
cana .

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

364

die of each wing there is a pale band edged with zigzag, dark
brown lines. The larva lives upon apple, cherry, oak, birch,
maple, and ash. When full grown it measures two and
one half inches in length and one half inch in breadth.
The upper side is slate-gray, mottled with black, with two
transverse scarlet bands, one on the second and one on the
third thoracic segments. There is a black spot at each end
and in the middle of each of these bands. The larva is
found during July and August. It is said that the cocoons
are attached to limbs like those of Tolype ; but the larvae of
this species which we have bred made their cocoons between
leaves, or in the folds of the muslin bag enclosing the limb
upon which they were feeding. The species passes the

winter in the pupa state ;
jit, and the moth appears in
yl June, when it lays its
v* eggs upon the leaves of
v, the trees it infests.

Superfamily Hesperiina
(Hes-per-i-i'na).

The Skippers .

The Skippers are so
called on account of their
peculiar mode of flight.
They fly in the daytime
and dart suddenly from
place to place. When at
rest most species hold the
wings erect in a vertical
position like butterflies ;
in some the fore wings
are thus held while the
hind wings are extend-

Fig. 445.— Wings of Epargyreus tityrus. horizontally J and a

few extend both pairs of wings horizontally. The antennae

LEPIDOPTERA.

365

are thread-like, and enlarged toward the tip ; but in most
cases the extreme tip is pointed and recurved, forming a
hook. The abdomen is usually stout, resembling that of
a moth rather than that of a butterfly. The skippers are
most easily distinguished by the peculiar venation of the
fore wings, vein III being five-branched, and all the
branches arising from the discal cell (Fig. 445). In some
butterflies all the branches of vein III appear to arise from
the discal cell ; but this is because two of the branches
coalesce to the margin of the wing. In such butterflies vein
III appears to be only four-branched.

This superfamily includes two families — the Giant Skip¬
pers, Megathymidce , and the Common Skippers, Hesperiidce.
These can be distinguished as follows: —

A. Head of moderate size ; club of antenna large, neither drawn out
at the tip nor recurved. Large skippers, with wing expanse of

two inches or more. p. 365 . Megathymidce.

AA. Head very large ; club of antenna usually drawn out at the
tip, and with a distinct recurved apical crook. In a few forms
the crook of the antennae is wanting ; such forms can be distin¬
guished from the Mcgathymidas by their smaller size, the wing
expanse being less than one and one fourth inches, p. 368.

Hesperiidce.

Family Megathymid^e (Meg-a-thym'i-dae).

The Giant Skippers.

This family includes a small number of large skippers,
which are found in the South and far West. In the
idult insect the head is of moderate size, the width, includ¬
ing the eyes, being much less than that of the metathorax.
The club of the antennae is large ; and, although the tip is
turned slightly to one side, it is neither drawn out to a
point nor recurved. The body is very robust, even more
so than in the Hesperiidae. These insects fly in the day¬
time and with a rapid, darting flight. When at rest they
fold their wings in a vertical position.

In the more general features of their venation the wings

366

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

closely resemble those of the Hesperiidae. But the Giant
Skippers exhibit a very peculiar specialization of wing struc¬
ture in the male sex. Here the two branches of vein VII of
the fore wings separate from each other and from the cross¬
vein connecting them with vein V3, near the base of the
wing (Fig. 446). In this sex this cross-vein, the branches of

Fig. 446. — Wings of Megathymus yuccee^ male.

vein VII, and vein IX are all very stout. The strengthening
of these veins is evidently a specialization that increases the
power of flight of this sex. For these stout veins must aid
in depressing the hind wings during the downward stroke of
the wings, as the hind wing is overlapped by that part of the
fore wing traversed by these veins. The separation of the
branches of vein VII from each other and from the cross¬
vein, so near the base of the wing, is directly correlated
with the strengthening of these veins. In the course of
the perfecting of the powers of flight in the male these

LEPIDOPTERA .

367

veins have split apart, so that they overlie the hind wings
to a greater extent than they do in the female (Fig. 447),
which probably represents a more primitive condition. It
is a common occurrence for the wings of the male to be more
highly specialized than those of the female, for, in the seeking
of mates, the males
fly more than do
the females. But it
is unusual for veins to
coalesce to a smaller
extent in specialized
forms than in those
more generalized.

In other words, the
ordinary course of
specialization is for f.g . „*.-Mteatkymu, co/«g«i.

veins to grow together instead of to split apart.

This family is represented in the United States by a
single genus, of which only three species are known. The
female of one of these, Megat hymns cofaqni (Meg-a-thy'mus
cof-a-qui'), is represented by Figure 448. The male differs
in the smaller size of the spots on the fore wing, in lacking
the band of spots on the hind wing, and in having the upper
surface of the hind wing nearly covered with long fine black
hairs, which stand nearly erect. This species has been found
in Florida and Colorado.

A much better known species is the Yucca-borer, Mega¬
thymus yucca (M. yuc'cai). The female of this species differs
from that of the preceding in having much darker wings,
all of the spots being smaller, and in having only one or
two white spots on the lower surface of the hind wings.
The male lacks the erect hairs on the hind wings. The
larva bores in the stem and root of the Yucca or Spanish
Bayonet. It differs greatly in appearance from the larvae of
the Hesperiidae, having a small head. This species is widely
distributed through the southern part of our country.

368

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The third species, Megathymus neumoegeni (M. neu-mce-
gen'i), occurs in Arizona.

Family HESPERIID^E (Hes-pe-ri'i-dae).

The Common Skippers .

The family Hesperiidas includes all skippers found in

the United States except
im, the three species de-
lv, scribed above as the
/v* Giant Skippers. In ad¬
dition to the differences
indicated in the table
(p. 365), it may be said
that the males in the
Hesperiidae lack the pecu¬
liar thickening and split¬
ting apart of the branches
of vein VII of the fore
wings characteristic of
the Giant Skippers. But
there exists instead in the
males of nearly all spe¬
cies peculiar scent-organs,
which are described later.
Figure 449 represents the
venation of a male mem¬
ber of this family.

Fig. 449. — Wings of Epurgyreus tityrus. TllC larV3C of the

Common Skippers pre¬
sent a very characteristic
appearance, having large
heads and strongly con¬
stricted necks (Fig. 450).

v Fig. 450 .—Epargyrem tityrus , larva.

They usually live con¬
cealed in a folded leaf or in a nest made of several leaves

LEPIDOPTERA .

369

fastened together. The pupae are rounded, not angular,
resembling those of moths more than those of butterflies.
The pupa state is passed in a slight cocoon, which is gen¬
erally composed of leaves fastened together with silk, and
thinly lined with the same substance.

The family Hesperiidae includes three subfamilies; but
only two of them are represented in this country, the third
being confined to South and Central America. Our forms
can be separated as follows : —

A. Vein Va of the fore wings arising nearer to vein Vi than to vein

V*. p. 369 . HESPERIIIiiE.

AA. Vein V2 of the fore wings arising midway between veins Vi and

V3 or nearer to vein V3 than to vein Vi.

B. Vein V2 of the fore wings arising nearly midway between veins
V, and Vs.

C. Discal cell of fore wings more than two thirds as long as the
costa. Males usually with costal fold in fore wings, p. 369.

Hesperiin^e.

CC. Discal cell of fore wings less than two thirds as long as the
costa. Males usually with a discal patch on fore wings,
p. 372 . Pamphilusue.

BB. Vein V2 of the fore wings arising much nearer to vein V3 than
to vein Vj. p. 372 . PamphiliNjE.

Subfamily HESPERIIN^E (Hes-pe-ri-i'nae).

Skippers with a Costal Fold .

This subfamily includes the larger of the Common
Skippers, as well as some that are of moderate size. Most
of the species are dark brown, marked with white or trans¬
lucent, angular spots. The antennae usually have a long
club, which is bent at a considerable dis¬
tance from the tip (Fig. 45 0* ®Llt ^ie
most distinctive feature of the sub¬
family is exhibited by the males alone,
and is lacking in some species. It
consists of a fold in the fore wing near Fig. 45i.— Thanaos martiaiis.

the costal margin, which forms a long slit-like pocket, con-
25

370

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

taining a sort of silky down. This is supposed to be a
scent-organ. When this pocket is tightly closed it is diffi¬
cult to see it.

Nearly seventy species belonging to this subfamily have
been found in America north of Mexico. The following
are some of the more common of these: —

The Silver-spotted Skipper, Epargyreus tityrus (Ep-ar-
gy're-us tit'y-rus). — This skipper is represented on our
colored plate (Plate I, Fig. 4). It is dark chocolate-brown,
with a row of yellowish spots extending across the fore
wing and with a large silvery-white spot on the lower side
of the hind wing. It is found in nearly the whole United
States, from Massachusetts to California, except in the
extreme Northeast and Northwest. The larva (Fig. 450)
feeds upon various papilionaceous plants. We have found
it common on locust. It makes a nest, within which it re¬
mains concealed, by fastening together, with silk, the leaf¬
lets of a compound leaf (Fig. 452).

Fig. 452.— Nest of larva of Epargyreus tityrus.

The Long-tailed Skipper, Eudamus proteus (Eu'da-mus
pro'te-us). — This Skipper by the shape of its wings reminds
one of a swallow-tail butterfly, the hind wings being furnished
with long tails. It expands about one and three fourths
inches; and the greatest length of the hind wings is about
one and one fourth inches. The wings are very dark choc¬
olate-brown ; the front wings contain several silvery-white
spots ; and the body and base of the wings bear metallic-

LEPIDOPTERA .

371

green hairs. The larvae feed upon both Leguminosae and
Cruciferae. In the South it is sometimes a pest in gardens,
cutting and rolling the leaves of beans, turnips, and cabbage,
and feeding within the rolls thus formed. It is found on
the Atlantic border from New York southward into Mexico.

There are two common skippers which are nearly as
large as the two described above, but which have neither
the yellow band of the first nor the long tails of the second ;
neither do#they have the brown spots characteristic of the
following genus. These two skippers belong to the genus
Thorybes . The wings are of an even dark brown ; the fore
wings are flecked with small or very small irregular white
spots, and the hind wings are crossed beneath by two rather
narrow, parallel, inconspicuous darker bands. 1 hese skippers
are distinguished as follows : —

The Northern Cloudy-wing, Thorybes pylades (Thor'y-bes
pyl'a-des). — In this species the white spots on the fore wing
are usually mere points, although their number and size
vary. The species is found in nearly all parts of the United
States. The larva commonly feeds on clover.

The Southern Cloudy-wing, Thorybes bathyllus (T.
ba-thyl'lus). — In this species the white spots are larger
than in the preceding, almost forming a continuous band.
This skipper is widely distributed over the eastern United
States, except the more northern portions.

To the genus Thanaos belong a large number of species
which on account of their dark colors have been named
Dusky-wings. These species resemble each other so closely
in markings that it is very difficult to separate them with¬
out longer descriptions than we can
give here. The one following will
serve as an example.

Martial's Dusky-wing, Thanaos
martialis (Than'a-os mar-ti-a'lis). —

The wings are grayish brown with Fig. 453, — Thanaos martialis.
many dark brown spots evenly distributed and with several

372

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

minute white ones on the outer half of the fore wings
(Fig. 453). This skipper is found throughout the greater
part of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.

Among the smaller members of this subfamily are the
skippers of the genus Pholisora. The most widely dis¬
tributed species of this genus is the Sooty-wing, Pholisora
catullus (Phol-i-so'ra ca-tul'lus). The expanse of the wings
is a little more than one inch. The wings are nearly black,
marked with minute white spots, which vary in size and
number. This species is found throughout the United
States except along the extreme northern border.

The genus Hesperia includes a considerable number of
small skippers, which are easily recognized by their check¬
ered markings of white upon a dark brown ground. Small
white spots on the wings are common in this subfamily,
but in this genus the white spots are unusually large, so
large in some cases that they occupy the greater part of the
wing. One of the more common species is the Variegated
Tessellate, Hesperia tessellata (Hes-pe'ri-a tes-sel -la'ta).
This is distributed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and is
the only one common in the Eastern United States. In this
species more than one half of the outer two thirds of both
fore and hind wings is white.

Subfamily PAMPHlLlNiE (Pam-phi-li'nae).

Skippers with a Discal Patch .

This subfamily includes the greater number of our
smaller skippers. Some of the species, however, surpass in
size many of the Hesperiinae. To the
Pamphilinae belong all of our common
tawny skippers, as well as some black
or dark brown species. The antennae
usually have a stout club, with a short,
recurved tip ; sometimes this tip is

Fig. 454. — Limochores fon- , T ...

tiac% male. wanting. In the majority of our species

the males can be recognized at a glance by a conspicuous

LEPIDOPTERA.

373

discal patch, which usually appears to the naked eye like
a scorched, oblique streak near the center of each fore
wing (Fig. 454)* This patch is a complicated organ, com¬
posed of tubular scales that are outlets of scent-glands
and other scales of various shapes. The females can be
recognized by their resemblance in other respects to the
males. In some species the discal patch is wanting in the
males also.

This subfamily is an exceedingly difficult one to study.
More than one hundred species have been described from
America north of Mexico; and in many cases the differences
between allied species are not well marked. The following
two are named merely as examples, The first is easily
recognized. But it is not worth while for the beginning
student to attempt to distinguish other members of this
subfamily.

The Least Skipper, Ancyloxipha nurnitor (An-cy-lox'i-pha
nu'mi-tor). — This skipper is the smallest of our common
species, and is also remarkable for lacking the recurved
hook at the tip of the antennas. The wings are tawny,
broadly margined with dark brown. In some specimens
the fore wings are almost entirely brown. The larger in¬
dividuals expand about one inch. The larva feeds upon
grass in damp places.

The Black Dash, Limochores pontiac (Li-moch'o-res
pon'ti-ac). — The male of this species is represented by
Figure 454. It is blackish brown, with considerable yellow
on the basal half of the fore wings. The discal patch is
velvety black. This species is distributed from Massachu¬
setts to Nebraska.

Superfamily PAPILIONINA (Pa-pil-i-o-ni'na).

The Butterflies .

The butterflies differ from moths in that they have
clubbed antennae, fly only in the daytime, and hold the

374

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

nr.

wings erect above the back when at rest. There are some

moths that have
clubbed antennae, and
others that fly by day
but no moth presents
all three of the charac¬
teristics given above.

It is more difficult
to distinguish the but¬
terflies from the skip¬
pers ; yet this can be
easily done. In but¬
terflies the club of
the antenna is bluntly
rounded at the tip
instead of being fur¬
nished with a re¬
curved point as in
most skippers ; the
abdomen is very slen¬
der ; and some of the
branches of radius of
the fore wings co-

Fig. 455.— Wings of Basilarchia astyanax. aleSCe beyOIld the

apex of the discal cell (Fig. 455). There are butterflies in
which all of the branches of radius present arise from the
discal cell ; but this is due to the fact that two of the
branches coalesce to the edge of the wing, as is shown by
the fact that in these butterflies radius has less than five
branches.

This superfamily includes four families, which can be
separated as follows: —

A. Cubitus of the fore wings apparently four-branched (Fig. 456).

p. 375 . P APILIONIDjE.

A A. Cubitus of the fore wings apparently three-branched (Fig. 455).
B. With six well-developed legs, although in some species the fore

L EP ID OP TE RA .

375

legs of the male are a little shorter, and the tarsi of these lack
one or both claws ; radius of the fore wings, with rare exceptions,
only three- or four-branched. To determine the number of
branches of radius, count the two cubital and the three medial
branches first ; the branches left between veins Vi and II belong
to radius.

C. Vein V, of the fore wings arising at or near the apex of the
discalcell (Fig. 465) except in Fcttiseca tarquinius , in which the
wings are dark brown, with a large fulvous spot on each. p.

388 . LYCiENIDiE.

CC. The first branch of media of the fore wings united with
the last branch of radius for a considerable distance beyond
the apex of the discal cell (Fig. 460). Ground color of wings
white, yellow, or orange, p. 381 . PiERiDiE.

BB. With only four well-developed legs, the fore legs being un¬
used, much shorter than the others, and folded on the breast like
a tippet (except in the female of Hypatus). Radius of fore wings
five-branched (Fig. 467), p. 395 . Nymph alid^e.

Family PAPILIONID^E (Pa-pil-i-on'i-dae).

The Swallow-tails and the Parnassians.

This family includes the swallow-tail butterflies, which
are common throughout our country, and the Parnassians,
which are found only on high mountains or far north. These
insects are distinguished from all other butterflies by the
fact that vein V, of the fore wings appears to be a branch
of cubitus, making this vein appear four-branched (Fig. 456),
and also by the fact that the anal area of the hind wings is
more reduced than the anal area of the fore wings, the
former containing only a single anal vein, the latter two or
three.

The caterpillars are never furnished with spines, but are
either naked or clothed with a few fine hairs. In a single
species in our fauna ( Laertias philenor) the body of the
larva bears fleshy filaments.

A striking peculiarity of the larvae of this family is the
presence of a pair of bright-colored fleshy “ horns, ” which
can be projected from a slit in the dorsal wall of the pro-

37^ the study of insects .

thorax. These have been termed osmateria (os-ma-te'ria),

and are supposed to be
organs of defence ; for
they exhale when pushed
out an odor which in some
species is exceedingly dis¬
agreeable.

The chrysalids are
thickened in the middle
and taper considerably at
each end ; they are more
or less angulated, and have
certain parts excessively
produced ; they are sus¬
pended by the tail and by
a loose girth around the
middle.

This family includes
two well-marked subfami¬
lies, which are distin¬
guished as follows : —

A. Hind wings with a tail¬
like prolongation ; ground-
color of wings black ; radius
of fore wings five-branched; the base of vein VIII of fore wings
preserved as a spur-like branch of vein VII (Fig. 456). p. 376

Pa PI LI ONI NiE.

AA. Hind wings without tail-like prolongation ; ground color of
wings white; radius of fore wings four-branched ; vein VIII of fore
wings wanting, p. 380 . Parnassiinas

Subfamily Papilionin^: (Pa-pil-i-o-ni'nae).

The Swallow-tails.

These magnificent butterflies are easily recognized by
their large size and the tail-like prolongations of the hind
wings. The ground color of the wings is black, which is

LEPIDOPTERA.

377

usually marked with yellow, and often with metallic blue or
green.

There are about twenty-five species of swallow-tails in
America north of Mexico. The following well-known spe¬
cies will serve as illustrations.

The Black Swallow-tail, Papilio polyxenes (Pa-pil'i-o po-
lyx'e-nes). — The larva of this swallow-tail (Fig. 457) is well

known to most
country children.
It is the green
worm, ringed with
black and spotted
with yellow, that
eats the leaves of
caraway in the
back yards of coun¬
try houses. It feeds
also on parsnip and
other umbelliferous plants. These
caterpillars always fascinated us in
our childhood ; we have spent many
idle moments in poking them with
straws to see them rear upward and
project their yellow horns, which gave
off a sickening odor. When ready to
transform the caterpillar crawls away
to a fence or the side of the house
and changes to an angular pupa, sus¬
pended by the tail and by a little
silken girth around the middle.

In the adult the wings are black,
crossed with two rows of yellow spots,
and with marginal lunules of the same
color. The two rows of spots are
much more distinct in the male than in the female, the in¬
ner row on the hind wing forming a continuous band crossed

Fig. 457. — Papilio polyxenes ,
larva.

378 the study of insects.

with black lines on the veins. Between the two rows of
spots on the hind wings there are many blue scales ; these are
more abundant in the female. Near the anal angle of the
hind wing there is an orange spot with a black center. On
the lower surface of the wings the yellow markings become
mostly orange and are heavier.

This species is found throughout the United States and
in the southern parts of Canada.

The Tiger Swallow-tail, Jasoniades glaucus (Jas-o-ni'a-des
glau'cus). — The larva of this butterfly (Fig. 458) is even more
striking in appearance than that of the
preceding species. When full grown it is
dark green, and bears on each side of the
third thoracic segment a large greenish-
yellow spot, edged with black, and enclos¬
ing a small purple spot bordered with
black. This caterpillar has the curious
habit of weaving upon a leaf a carpet of
silk, upon which it rests when not feed¬
ing ; when nearly full grown, instead of
spinning a simple carpet as before, it
stretches a web across the hollow of a
leaf and thus makes a spring bed upon
which it sleeps (Fig. 458).

In the adult state two distinct forms of
this insect occur. These differ so greatly
in appearance that they were long con¬
sidered distinct species. They may be

larva upon its bed. distinguished US follows I -

(1) The Turnus Form .Jasoniades glaucus turnus . — The
wings are bright straw-yellow above, and pale, faded straw-
yellow beneath, with a very broad black outer margin, in
which there is a row of yellow spots. On the fore wings
there are four black bars, extending back from the costa ; the
inner one of these crosses the hind wings also. This form

LEPIDOPTERA. 379

is represented by both sexes, and is found in nearly all parts
of the United States and Canada.

(2) The Glaucus Form, Jasoniades glaucus glaucus . — In
this form the disk of the wings is entirely black, but the
black bands of the Turnus form are faintly indicated, espe¬
cially on the lower surface, by a darker shade. The mar¬
ginal row of yellow spots is present, and also the orange
spots and blue scales of the hind wings. This form is rep¬
resented only by the female sex, and occurs only in the
more southern part of the range of the species, i.e., from
Delaware to Montana and southward.

The Zebra Swallow-tail, Iphiclides ajax (Iph-i-cli'des
a'jax). — This butterfly (Fig. 459) differs from all other swal¬
low-tails found in the
eastern half of the
United States in hav¬
ing the wings crossed
by several bands of
greenish white. This
is one of the most in¬
teresting of our but¬
terflies, as it occurs
under three distinct
forms, two of which
were considered for a
long time distinct
species. Without tak¬
ing into aCCOUnt the FlC- 459 -—Iphiclides ajax.

more minute differences these forms can be separated as
follows : —

(1) The Early-spring Form, Iphiclides ajax marcellus
(mar-cel'lus). — This is the form figured here. It expands
from two and six tenths inches to two and eight tenths
inches ; and the tails of the hind wings are about six tenths
inch in length and tipped with white.

(2) The Late-spring Form. Iphiclides ajax telamonides

380

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

(tel-a-mon'i-des). — This form is a little larger than marcellus
and has tails nearly one third longer ; these tails are bordered
with white on each side of the distal half or two thirds of
their length.

(3) The Summer Form, Iphiclides ajax ajax . — The sum¬
mer form is still larger, expanding from three and two tenths
inches to three and one half inches, and has tails nearly two
thirds longer than the early-spring form.

The life-history of this species has been carefully worked
out by Mr. W. H. Edwards. He has shown that there are
several generations each year, and that the winter is passed
in the chrysalis state. But the early-spring form and the
late-spring form are not successive broods; these are both
composed of individuals that have wintered as chrysalids,
those that emerge early developing into marcellus, and those
that emerge later developing into telamonides. All of the
butterflies produced from eggs of the same season, and there
are several successive broods, are of the summer form, ajax
ajax.

The larva feeds upon papaw ( Asimina ). This insect is
found throughout the eastern half of the United States
except in the extreme north.

Subfamily PARNASSIIN^E (Par-nas-si-i'nse)

The Parnassians {Par-nasf si-ans).

The Parnassians differ from the Swallow-tails in lacking
the tail-like prolongations of the hind wings and in that the
ground-color of the wings is white ; but resemble them in
the general plan of the venation of the wings, and in pos¬
sessing similar scent-organs (osmateria) in the larval state.
The wings of the butterflies are usually conspicuously marked
with black spots and shades, and with red spots. Only four
species have been found in North America. These belong
to the genus Parnassius (Par-nas'si-us). They are found only
on high mountains or far north.

LEPIDOPTERA.

38*

Family PiERlD^E (Pi-er'i-dae).

The Pierids (. Pi-cr'ids ).

These butterflies are usually of medium size, but some of
them are small; they are nearly always white, yellow, or
orange, and are usually marked with black. They are the
most abundant of all our butterflies, being common every¬
where in fields and roads. Some species are so abundant as
to be serious pests, the larvae feeding on cultivated plants.

The characteristic features of the venation of the wings
are the following (Fig. 460): Vein Va of the fore wings is
more closely connected
with radius than with
cubitus, the latter appear¬
ing to be three-branched ;
vein V, of the fore wings
coalesces with radius for
a considerable distance
beyond the apex of the
discal cell ; and only three
or four of the branches
of radius remain distinct.

In this family the fore
legs are well developed in
both sexes, there being no
tendency to their reduc¬
tion in size, as in the two
following families.

The larvae are usual¬
ly slender green worms
clothed with short, fine
hairs; the well-known Cabbage-worms are typical illus¬
trations (Fig. 461). The chrysalids are supported by the
tail and by a loose girth around the middle. They may be
distinguished at a glance by the presence of a single pointed
projection in front (Fig. 461).

Fig. 460.— Wings of Pontia protodice .

382

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Our genera of this family can be separated into three
groups, which seem hardly distinct enough to be ranked as

Fig. 461. — Pieris rapes , larvae and pupa.

subfamilies. These are the Whites, the Yellows, and the
Orange-tips.

I. The Whites . — The more common representatives of
this group are the well-known Cabbage-butterflies. They
are white butterflies more or less marked with black. Occa¬
sionally the white is tinged with yellow ; and sometimes yel¬
low varieties of our white
species occur. About a
dozen North American
species of this group are
known.

The Cabbage-butterfly,
Pieris rapes (Pi'e-ris ra'pae).
— The wings of this butter
fly are dull white above,
occasionally tinged with
yellowish, especially in the
female ; below, the apex of the fore wings and the entire

Fig. 462. — Pieris rapes.

LEPIDOPTERA .

383

surface of the hind wings are pale lemon-yellow. In the
female there are two spots on the outer part of the fore
wing besides the black tip, in the male only one (Fig.
462). There is considerable variation in the intensity of
the black markings, and in the extent of the yellow tinge of
the wings.

The larva of this species (Fig. 461) feeds principally on
cabbage, but it also attacks many other cruciferous plants.
Its color is the green of the cabbage-leaf, with a narrow,
greenish, lemon-yellow dorsal band, and a narrow, inter¬
rupted stigmatal band of the same color. The body is
clothed with very fine short hairs.

Pieris rapes is without doubt the most injurious to agri¬
culture of all our species of butterflies. It is an introduced
species, but has spread over the greater part of this coun¬
try. As it is three-brooded in the North and probably
more in the South, it is present nearly the entire season, so
that it needs to be fought constantly. Owing to the im¬
practicability of using poison upon cabbage, and to the fact
that the larva bores into the heart of the cabbage beyond
the reach of applications to the plant, it is an exceedingly
difficult insect to combat. Obviously it is important in
fighting this insect to thoroughly subdue the spring and
summer broods, so that the bulk of the fighting can be
done before the cabbage begins to head. For this purpose
pyrethrum and kerosene emulsion have been found most
useful.

The Gray-veined White, Pieris oleracea (Pi'c-ris ol-e-ra'-
ce-a). — The wings are white above and below, with a scarcely
perceptible tinge of greenish yellow. Sometimes there is a
dark spot on the fore wing between veins Vs and VII, , but
usually the wings are unspotted. The base of the wings,
however, and the basal half of the costa of the front wings,
are powdered more or less with dark scales, and the veins of
the wings, especially on the lower side, are grayish.

This species occurs throughout Canada and in the more

384

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

northern portions of the United States. The larva feeds
on cabbage.

The Checkered White, Pontia protodice (Pon'ti-a pro-
tod'i-ce). — The two sexes of this species differ greatly in
appearance, the female being much more darkly marked
than the male. The wings are white, marked above with
grayish brown. There is a bar of this color at the end of
the discal cell ; beyond this there is in the male a row of
three more or less distinct spots, and in the female an
almost continuous band of spots. Besides these there is in
the female a row of triangular spots on the outer margin of
both fore and hind wings, and on the hind wings a submar¬
ginal zigzag bar.

The larva of this species is colored with alternating
stripes of bright golden yellow and dark greenish purple,
upon which are numerous black spots. It feeds upon cab¬
bage and other cruciferous plants, and occurs in nearly the
whole of the United States. Both this and the preceding
species seem to become greatly lessened in numbers by the
increase of the imported Pieris rapce.

II. The Orange-tips. — These, like the butterflies compris¬
ing the preceding group, are white, marked with black.
Their most characteristic feature is the presence on the
lower surface of the hind wings of a greenish network, or a
marbled green mottling. This usually shows through the
wing so as to appear as a dark shade when the wings are
seen from above (Fig. 463). Many species have a con¬
spicuous orange spot on the api¬
cal portion of the front wings.
This has suggested the common
name Orange-tips for the group.
But it should be remembered
that some species lack this
mark, and that in some others it
is confined to the males. Nearly
all of our species are confined to
the far West. The two following occur in the East.

LEP ID OP TER A.

385

The Falcate Orange-tip, Anthocharis genutia (An-thoch'-
a Ws ge-nu'ti-a). — In this species the apex of the fore wings
is* hooked, reminding one of the Hook-tip Moths. In the
males there is a large apical orange patch. This butterfly
is found throughout the southeastern part of the United
States, not including Florida. It occurs as far north as
New Haven, Conn. It is nowhere abundant.

Synchloe olympia (Syn'chlo-e o-lym'pi-a). — In this species
the orange patch is wanting in both sexes. There is a con¬
spicuous black bar at the end of the discal cell of the fore
wings, and the apical portion of these wings is gray, includ¬
ing a large irregular white band (Fig. 463).

This species occurs in the Mississippi Valley.

III. The Yellows . — The Yellows are easily recognized by
their bright yellow colors, although in some species whitish
fornis occur. They abound almost everywhere in open
fields, and are common about wet places in roads. To this
group belong the larger number of our Pierids.

The Clouded Sulphur, Eurymus philodice (Eu'ry-mus phi-
lod'i-ce). — The wings above
are rather pale greenish yellow,
with the outer borders black¬
ish brown. Figure 464 repre¬
sents the male ; in the female
the border on the fore wings
is broader, and contains a sub¬
marginal row of yellow spots.

The discal dot of the fore
wings is black, that of the
hind wings is orange. The under surface is sulphur-yellow.

This species is dimorphic. The second form is repre¬
sented only by the female sex, and differs in having the
ground-color of the wings white instead of yellow.

The Clouded Sulphur occurs from the mouth of the St.
Lawrence to South Carolina and westward to the Rocky
Mountains. Its larva feeds upon clover and other Legu-

Fig. 464. — Eurymus philodice.

minosse.

26

386

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The Orange Sulphur, Eurymus cury theme (E. eu-
ryth'e-me). — This species closely resembles philodice in¬
size, shape, and markings. The typical form differs from
philodice in being of an orange color above instead of a
yellow.

The Orange Sulphur is a Western species, occurring in
the Mississippi Valley and west to the Pacific Ocean. It is
one of the most polymorphic of all butterflies ; the forms
differ so much in appearance that four or five of them have
been described as distinct species. The larva feeds on
clover.

The DogVhead, Zerene ccesonia (Ze-re'ne cae-so'ni-a.) —
The wings are lemon-yellow above, bordered on the outer
margin with black. On the hind wings the border is nar
row, but on the fore wings it is broad. The outline of the
yellow of the fore wings suggests a head of a dog or of a
duck, a prominent black spot on the discal vein serving as
the eye. This is an abundant species in the Southeastern
and Southwestern States, extending from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. The larva feeds on clover.

The Black-bordered Yellow, Xanthidia nicippe (Xan-
thid'i-a ni-cip'pe). — The wings above are bright orange,
marked with blackish brown as follows : on the fore wings a
narrow bar at the apex of the discal cell, the apical portion
of the wings, and the outer margin ; on the hind wings, the
outer margin. In the female the outer marginal band is in¬
terrupted at the anal angle of each wing, and on the hind
wings it may be reduced to an apical patch. The expanse
of wings is from one and six tenths inches to one and nine
tenths inches.

The species occurs from Southern New England to
Florida and west to Lower California. The larva feeds on
several species of Cassia.

The Little Sulphur, Enrema lisa (Eu-re'ma li'sa). —
Although this species is larger than the following one it
is considerably below the average size of our yellows, the

LEP1D0PTERA.

3*7

larger specimens expanding less than one inch and a half.
The wings are canary-yellow above, with the apex of the
fore wing and the outer margin of both fore and hind wings
blackish brown. The border of the hind wing is narrow and
sometimes wanting.

The distribution of this species is similar to that of the
preceding. The larva feeds on Cassia.

The Dainty Sulphur, Nat kalis iole (Na-tha'lis i'o-le). —
This little butterfly can be distinguished from all others de¬
scribed here by its small size, as it expands only from less
than one inch to one and one fifth inches. It is of a pale
canary-yellow color, with dark brown markings. There is a
large apical patch on the fore wings, and a broad band par¬
allel with the inner margin ; on the hind wings there is a
stripe on the basal two thirds of the costa, and spots on the
ends of the veins ; these are more or less connected on the
margin of the wing, especially in the female.

This species also is found from Southern New England
to Florida and west to Lower California. It, too, feeds on
Cassia.

The Cloudless Sulphur, Callidryas eubule (Cal-lid'ry-as
eu-bu'le). — This large butterfly differs greatly in appearance
from those described above. It expands two and one half
inches. The wings above are of uniform bright canary-
yellow. In the male they are without spots, except fre¬
quently an inconspicuous brown dot at the tip of each vein,
and a lilac -brown edging of the costal border. In the
female there is a discal dot on the fore wing and a mar¬
ginal row of brown spots at the ends of the veins.

This is a southern species which occasionally extends as
far north on the coast as New York City, and in the Missis¬
sippi Valley as far as Southern Wisconsin. The larva feeds
on Cassia.

388

THE STUDY OF INSECTS, ,

Family LYC^ENUMi (Ly-caen'i-dae).
The Gossamer-winged Butterflies.

VIIi

Vila

The family Lycaenidae includes butterflies which are of
small size and delicate structure. In size they resemble the
smaller Hesperiidae ; but they can be distinguished at a
glance from the skippers, as they present an entirely differ¬
ent appearance. The body is slender, the wings delicate
and often brightly colored, and the club of the antenna
straight. The antennae are nearly always ringed with white,
and a conspicuous rim of white scales encircles the eyes.

An easily-observed combination of characters by which

the members of this fam-
ni4*5 ily can be distinguished
is the absence of one or
two of the branches ol
radius of the fore wings,
this vein being only
three- or four-branched,
and the origin of vein V,
of the fore wings at
or near the apex of the
discal cell (Fig. 465).
In all other butterflies
occurring in our fauna
in which radius is only
three- or four-branched,
vein V, of the fore wings
coalesces with radius for
a considerable distance
beyond the apex of the
discal cell. An excep-

Kig. 465. — Wings of Chrysophanus thoe. tion to the characters of

the Lycaenidae is presented by Feniseca , as indicated in
the table of families, p. 375.

A remarkable characteristic of this family is that while in

Plate VI

LEPIDOPTERA.

389

the female the front legs are like the other legs, in the male
they are shorter, without tarsal claws, and with the tarsi
more or less aborted. This reduction of the fore legs is
carried even farther in the next family, where it extends to
both sexes, and the fore legs are unused.

The caterpillars of the Lycaenidae present a very unusual
form, being more or less slug-like, reminding one of the
larvae of the Eucleidae. The body is short and broad ;
the legs and prolegs are short and small, allowing the body
to be closely pressed to the object upon which the insect is
moving — in fact some of the species glide rather than creep;
and the head is small, and can be retracted more or less
within the prothorax. The body is armed with no conspic¬
uous appendages ; but some of the species are remarkable
for having honey-tubes which can be pushed out from the
seventh and eighth abdominal segments, and through which
honey-dew is excreted for the use of ants. Certain other
species are remarkable in being carnivorous ; one American
species feeds exclusively upon plant-lice.

The chrysalids are short, broad, ovate, and without angu¬
lations. They are attached by the caudal extremity, and by
a loop passing over the body near its middle. The ventral
aspect of the body is straight and often closely pressed to
the object to which the chrysalis is attached.

The Lycaenidae include two subfamilies ; these can be
be separated as follows : —

A. Vein II of the hind wings without a branch near the base of the

wing (Fig. 465) . Lyc;enin;e.

AA. Vein II of the hind wings giving off a spur (the tip of vein I)
near the base of the wing. p. 394 . Lemoniin^e.

Subfamily Lyc^ENIN^E (Ly-cae-ni'nae).

The Common Gossamer-winged Butterflies.

This subfamily includes all of our common members 01
the Lycaenidae ; it is composed of three well-marked groups

39°

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

of genera, which have been distinguished as the Coppers,
the Blues, and the Hair-streaks.

I. The Coppers. — The Coppers are easily distinguished
from other gossamer-winged butterflies by their orange-red
and brown colors, each with a coppery tinge, and conspicu¬
ous black markings. They are the stoutest of the Lycaenidae.
About twenty species are known to occur in this country ;
the three following will serve as illustrations: —

The American Copper, Heodes hypophlaas (He-o'des
hyp-o-phlae'as). — This is the most common of our coppers
in the Northeastern States and in Canada. Its range ex¬
tends also along the boundary between the United States
and Canada to the Pacific Ocean, and southward into Cali¬
fornia; and in the east along the Alleghany Mountains
south to Georgia. It is represented on Plate I (Fig. 5)*
The fore wings are orange-red above, spotted with black,
and with a blackish brown outer border ; the hind wings are
coppery brown, with a broad orange-red band on the outer
margin ; this band is indented by four black spots.

The larva feeds on the common sorrel ( Runiex acetoselld).

The Bronze Copper, Chrysophanus thoe (Chrys-o-pha'nus
tho'e). — This is larger than the preceding species, the wings
expanding one and one half inches or more. In the male
the wings are coppery brown above, spotted with black, and
with a broad orange-red band on the outer margin of the
hind wings. The female differs in having the fore wings
orange-red above, with prominent black spots.

This species occurs in the Middle and Western States
from the Connecticut Valley to Nebraska. The larva feeds
on curled dock ( Rumex crispus').

The Wanderer, Feniseca tarquinius (Fe-nis'e-ca tar-quin'i-
us). — This butterfly can be readily distinguished from all
other Lycrenids in our fauna by the fact that vein V, of
the fore wings coalesces with radius for a considerable dis¬
tance beyond the apex of the discal cell. The upper surface
of the wings is dark brown, with a large, irregular, orange-

LEPIDOPTERA . 39 1

yellow patch on the disk of the fore wing, and one of the
same color next the anal angle of the hind wing.

This species is of unusual interest, as the larva is carniv¬
orous in its habits. It feeds on plant-lice; and, so far as
observed, it feeds only on the woolly aphids. It is found
more often in colonies of the Alder Blight ( Schizoneura tes-
sellata ) than in those of the allied species. It is found from
Maine to Northern Florida and westward to Kansas. It is a
very local insect, being found only in the neighborhood of
water where alder grows.

II. The Blues . — The Blues may be distinguished from
the other gossamer-winged butterflies by the slender form
of the body, and the blue color of the upper surface of the
wings. About fifty North American species have been de¬
scribed; but most of these occur only in the far West.
This is a rather difficult group to study owing to the fact
that in several cases a single species exists under two or
more distinct forms, and also that the two sexes of the same
species may differ greatly. It often happens that two indi¬
viduals of the same sex but of different species resemble
each other more closely in the coloring of the upper sur¬
face than do the two sexes of either of the species. In
each of our eastern species the upper surface of the wings
of the female is much darker than that of the male.

The Spring Azure, Cyaniris pseudargiolus (Cy-a-ni'ris
pseud-ar-gi'o-lus). — In this species the hind wings arc with¬
out tails, the eyes are hairy, and the lower surface of the
wings is pale ash-gray. This combination of characters will
distinguish it from all other blues occurring in the Eastern
United States. But the species is not confined to this re¬
gion, as it occurs in nearly all parts of the United States
and in a large part of Canada.

This butterfly exhibits polymorphism to the greatest
degree of any known species ; nine or ten forms have been
described. Two of these are represented on Plate VI
(Figs. 1 and 7).

The larva feeds on the buds and flowers of various

392 THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

plants, especially those of Cornus, Cimicifuga , and Actmo -
meris. They are frequently attended by ants for the sake
of the honey-dew which they excrete through tubes that
they push out from the seventh and eighth abdominal seg¬
ments.

The Tailed Blue, Everes comyntas (E-ve'res co-myn'tas). —
The butterflies of the genus Everes can be distinguished
from our other blues by the presence of a small tail-like
prolongation of the hind wing. This is borne at the end of
vein VII. Our common species (E. comyntas ) is distributed
over nearly all parts of North America. The male is dark
purplish violet above, bordered with brown ; the female is
dark brown, sometimes flecked with bluish scales. In the
Eastern United States this is the only species of the genus.

The larva feeds upon clover and other leguminous
plants.

III. The Hair-streaks. — The Hair-streaks are distinguished
from the other Lycaeninae by the fact that radius of the
fore wings is only three-branched. They are usually dark
brown, with delicate striped markings on the lower surface
of the wings, which suggested the com¬
mon name given above ; but some
species are brilliantly marked with me¬
tallic blue or green. The hind wings
are also commonly furnished with deli¬
cate tail-like prolongations (Fig. 466).
The fore wings of the male often bear
a small dull oval spot near the middle
of the costal part of the wing, the dis-
Fig. 4 66.— Theda caianus. cai stigma, which is filled with the
peculiar scent-scales known as andriconia. The males are
iso distinguished by having a tuft of hair-like scales, the
beard, on the front ; this is wanting or very thin in the fe¬
males. About fifty species occur in America north of
Mexico ; of these nearly twenty occur in the eastern half
of the United States.

The Banded Hair-streak, Thecla caianus (Thec'la cal 'a-

LEPIDOPTERA .

393

nus). — In the Northeastern United States the most common
of the hair-streaks is this species (Fig. 466). The upper
surface of the wings is dark brown or blackish brown. The
under surface is blackish slate-brown nearly as dark as the
upper surface, and marked as shown in the figure.

The larva feeds on oak and hickory. Excepting the
southern portion of the Gulf States, the species is found
throughout our territory east of the Rocky Mountains, and
in the southern part of Canada.

The Olive Hair-streak, Mitoura damon (Mi-tou'ra
da'mon). — The upper surface of the wings is dark brown,
with the disk more or less deeply suffused with brassy yellow
in the male or tawny in the female ; the hind wing has two
tails, one much longer than the other, both black tipped
with white. The lower surface of the hind wings is deep
green ; both fore and hind wings are marked with white bars
bordered with brown (Plate VI, Fig. 6).

The larva feeds on red cedar. The species occurs from
Massachusetts to Florida and westward to Dakota and
Texas.

The Banded Elfin, Incisalia niphon (In-ci-sa'li-a ni'phon).
— In the butterflies of the genus hicisalia the fringe of the
outer margin of the hind wings is slightly prolonged at the
end of each vein, giving the wings a scalloped outline ;
they also lack tail-like prolongations of the hind wings.
There are several species occurring on both sides of the con¬
tinent. One of these, the Banded Elfin, is represented on
Plate VI (Fig. 4). In this species there is a distinct white
or whitish edging near the base of the under side of the
hind wing which limits a darker band that occupies the
outer two thirds of the basal half of the wing.

This species occurs in the Eastern and Middle States.
The larva feeds on pine.

The Hair-streaks described above are of moderate size
and modest colors. The two following will serve to illustrate
a somewhat different type.

The Great Purple Hair-streak, Atlides halesiis (At'li-des

394

THE STUDY OF TV SECTS.

ha-le'sus). — This is the largest of our eastern hair-streaks,
the larger individuals expanding two inches. In the male
the greater part of the upper surface of the wings is bright
blue ; the discal stigma, the outer fourth of the fore wings,
the apex of the inner margin of the hind wings, and the
tails are black. In the female the outer half of the wings is
black.

The species occurs in the southern half of the United
States and southward. It has been found as far north as
Illinois. The larva is said to feed on oak.

The White- M Hair-streak, Eupsyche m-album (Eu-psy'-
che m-al'bum). — This is a smaller species, expanding about
one and one half inches. The upper surface of the disk
of the wings is a rich, glossy dark blue, with green reflec¬
tions ; a broad outer border and costal margin are black.
The hind wing has two tails, and a bright dark orange
spot preceded by white at the anal angle. The under sur¬
face is brownish gray, and on this surface both wings are
crossed by a common, narrow white stripe, which forms a
large W or reversed M on the hind wings.

This species occurs in the southern half of the United
States. The larva feeds on oak and on Astrangulus .

Subfamily LEMONIINiE (Le-mon-i-i'nae).

The Lenioniids {Le-mo' ni-ids).

This is a large subfamily ; but the species are found
chiefly in South and Central America. In our fauna it is
represented only by a small number of rare butterflies.

If we except one Floridian species ( Eumenia atala ), this
subfamily is represented in the Eastern United States by
only two species. In the far West eleven others are now
known. The eastern species are the Large Metal-mark,
Calephelis borealis (Cal-e-phe'lis bo-re-a'lis), which expands
one inch or more, and the Small Metal-mark, Calephelis
ccznius (C. cae'ni-us), which expands less than four fifths of an
inch. In both species there are on the outer half of the
wings two lines of shining lead-colored scales.

LEP1D0PTERA.

395

Family Nymphalid^E (Nym-phal'i-dae).

The Four-footed Butterflies .

The family Nymphalidae includes chiefly butterflies of
medium or large size ; but a few of the species are small.
With a single exception, these butterflies differ from all
others in our fauna in having the fore legs very greatly re¬
duced in size in both sexes . So great is the reduction that
these legs cannot be used for walking, but are folded on
the breast like a tippet. A slight reduction in the size of the
fore legs occurs in the Lycaenidae, but there it occurs only in
the males, and to a much less degree than in this family.

In the venation of the wings (Fig. 467) the four-footed
butterflies differ from
the two preceding
families in retaining m
all of the branches
of radius of the fore
wings, this vein be¬
ing five-branched.

The larvae are
nearly or quite cylin-
drical, and are
clothed to a greater
or less extent with
hairs and sometimes
with branching
spines.

The chrysalids are
usually angular, and
often bear large pro¬
jecting prominences;
sometimes they are
rounded. They al¬
ways hang head
downwards, sup¬
ported only by the tail, which i‘c fastened to a button of silk.

396

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

This is the largest of the families of butterflies. It not
only surpasses the other families in number of species, but
it contains a greater number and variety of striking forms,
and also a larger proportion of the species of butterflies
familiar to every observer of insects. There may be in any
locality one or two species of yellows or of whites more
abundant, but the larger number of species commonly ob¬
served are four-footed butterflies.

Five subfamilies of the Nymphalidae are represented in
our fauna. These can be separated by the following table,
which is based on one given by Mr. Scudder : —

A. With none of the veins of the fore wings unusually swollen at the
base.

B. Antennae clothed with scales, at least above.

C. Fore wings at least twice as long as broad, p. 397.

Heliconin^e.

CC. Fore wings less than twice as long as broad.

D. Palpi much longer than the thorax, p. 396. . LibytheiNjE.

DD. Palpi not as long as the thorax, p. 398. . .Nymphalin^e.

BB. Antennae naked, p.397 . Euplcein^e.

AA. With some of the veins of the fore wings greatly swollen at the
base, p.410 . Satyrin^e.

Subfamily LlBYTHElNAE (Li-byth-e-i'nae).

The Long-beaks.

The Long-beaks can be easily recognized by their ex¬
cessively long, beak-like palpi, which are from one fourth

to one half as long as the body
and project straight forward
(Fig. 468). The outer margin
of the fore wings is deeply
notched ; the males have only
four well-developed legs, while

Fig. 468. — Hypatus bachmanni. tile females have six.

Only three species have been found in America north of
Mexico; and of these but one occurs in the Eastern United
States.

LEP1D OP TER A .

397

The Snout Butterfly, Hypatus bachniannii (Hyp'a-tus
bach-man'ni-i). — The wings are blackish brown above,
marked with orange patches and white spots. The species
occurs throughout the Eastern United States, excepting the
northern part of New England and the southern part of
Florida. The larva feeds on Celtis occidentalism

Subfamily HELICONIIN^E (Hel-i-co-ni-i'nae).

The Heliconians (Hel-i-co'ni-ans).

This subfamily consists chiefly of tropical butterflies ; a
few species, however, extend into the southern portion of
our territory. They are of medium or rather large size,
and are easily recognized by their narrow and elongated fore
wings, which are usually more than twice as long as broad.

Subfamily Euplcein^E (Eu-plce-i'nae).

The Euplceids {Eu-plce'ids).

These are butterflies of large size, with rounded and
somewhat elongated wings, the apical portion of the fore
wings being much produced. The absence of scales on the
antennae is the most available character for distinguishing
these insects. Only a very few species occur in our fauna.
The best known of these is the following : —

The Monarch, Anosia plexippus (A-no'si-a plex-ip'pus). —
The upper surface of the wings is light tawny brown, with
the borders and veins black, and with two rows of white
spots on the costal and outer borders as shown in Figure
469. The figure represents a female ; in the male the veins
of the wings are more narrowly margined with black, and
there is a black pouch next to vein VI Ia of the hind wings,
containing scent-scales or androconia.

The larva feeds upon different species of milk-weed, As -
clepias, When full grown it is lemon or greenish yellow,
broadly banded with shining black. It is remarkable for
bearing a pair of long fleshy filaments on the second thoracic
segment, and a similar pair on the seventh abdominal seg-

398

THE STUDY OF INSECTS, .

ment. The chrysalis is about one inch in length. It is
bright green, dotted With gold.

This species occurs throughout the greater part of the
United States, and is distributed far beyond our borders.

Fig. 469. — Anosia plexipfius.

It is believed, however, that the species dies out each year in
a large part of the Northern States, and that those butter¬
flies which appear first in this region, in June or July, have
flown hither from the South, where they hibernate in the
adult state. In the extreme South they fly all winter.
Great swarms, including many thousands of individuals of
this species, are sometimes seen.

Subfamily NYMPIiALINiE (Nym-pha-li'nse).

The Typical Nymphalids (Nym-pha' lids).

The butterflies of this subfamily vary so much in the
outline and ornamentation of the wings that it is impossible
to briefly characterize them. The student, however, will
have no difficulty in distinguishing them by means of the
table of subfamilies already given. Our genera represent
five quite distinct groups, as follows: —

I. The Crescent-spots or the Melitceids (Mel-i-tae'ids). — This
group includes some of the smaller members of the Nym-

I

LEPIDOPTERA. 399

phalinae. The color of the wings is sometimes black, with
red and yellow spots; but it is usually fulvous, with the fore
wings broadly margined, especially at the apex, with black,
and crossed by many irregular lines of black. About fifty
species occur in this country.

The Baltimore, Euphydryas phaeton (Eu-phyd'ry-as pha'-
e-ton). — The wings above are black, with an outer marginal
row of dark reddish-orange spots, and parallel rows of very
pale yellow spots ; on the fore wings a third row is more or
less represented. The wings expand two inches or more.

The larvae feed on a species of snakehead ( Chelone
glabra) ; they are gregarious, and build a common nest by
weaving together the leaves of their food-plant. The species
occurs in Ontario and the northern half of the United States
east of the Rocky Mountains. It is very local, the butter¬
flies remaining near the bogs or moist meadows where the
food-plant of the larva is found.

The butterflies of the genus Phyciodes (Phy-ci-o'des) and
the allied genera abound throughout our country. They are
of small size, and of a fulvous color,
heavily marked with black. Each
species varies considerably in mark¬
ings, and different species resemble
each other quite closely, making
this a difficult group for the begin¬
ning Student. Figure 47O repre- Fig. wo.— Phyciodes nycteis.

sents a common species.

II. The Fritillaries (Frit'il-la-ries) or the Argynnids (Ar-
gyn'nids). — This group includes butterflies varying from a
little below to somewhat above medium size. The color of
the wings is fulvous, bordered and checkered with black, but
not so heavily bordered as in the crescent-spots. The lower
surface of the hind wings is often marked with curving rows
of silvery spots. This is a large group containing many
species, which are extremely difficult to separate. More
than fifty species occur in America north of Mexico. The
larvae feed upon the leaves of violets.

400

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

The Great Spangled Fri tillary, Argynnis cybele (Ar-gyn'«
tiis cyb'e-le). — This species (Fig. 471) will serve to illustrate

the appearance of the larger members of this group, those
belonging to the genus Argynnis. In this genus vein III3
of the fore wings arises before the apex of the discal cell.

There are a number of common fritillaries which resem¬
ble the preceding in color and markings but which are much
smaller, the wings expanding considerably less than two
inches. These belong to the genus Brent his (Bren'this). In
this genus vein III2 of the fore wings arises beyond the apex
of the discal cell.

The Variegated Fritillary, Enptoieta clatidia (Eup-toi-e'ta
clau'di-a). — This butterfly agrees with the smaller fritillaries

(. Brenthis ) in the origin
of vein III3 of the fore
wing beyond the apex
of the discal cell, but
differs from them in the
shape of the fore wing,
the apex of which is
much more produced
(Fig. 472), and the outer

margin, except at the apex, concave ; it is also considerably
larger.

This species occurs throughout the United States east of

LEPIDOP TER A. 401

the Rocky Mountains ; but it is very rare in the northern
half of this region.

III. The Angle-wings or the Vanessids (Va-nes'sids). — To
this group belong many of our best-known butterflies. With
these the outer margin of the fore wings is usually decidedly
angular or notched as if a part had been cut away. A large
proportion of the species hibernate in the adult state, and
some of them are the first butterflies to appear in the spring.
Some of the hibernating species, however, remain in conceal¬
ment till quite late in the season.

The Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta (Va-nes'sa at-a-
lan'ta). — The wings are purplish black above. On the fore
wing there is a bright
orange-colored band
beginning near the
middle of the costa,
and extending nearly
to the inner angle ;
between this and the
apex of the wing are
several white spots,
as shown in Figure

Fig. 473. — Vanessa atalanta .

473 ; on the hind

wing there is an orange band on the outer margin inclosing
a row of black spots. The lower surface of the wings is
shown on Plate I, Fig. 6.

The larva feeds chiefly on nettle and on hop. When
first hatched it folds together a half-opened leaf at the sum¬
mit of the plant ; when larger it makes its nest of a lower
expanded leaf. There are two broods ; both butterflies and
chrysalids hibernate. This butterfly occurs over nearly the
whole of the European and North American continents.

The Painted Beauty, Vanessa hunt era (Va-nes'sa hun'-
te-ra) — The wings above are very dark brownish black, with
large irregular spots of golden orange. In the apical portion
of the fore wings there are several white spots, as shown

402

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

in Figure 474. The lower surface of the wings is repre¬
sented on Plate I, Fig. 7. A characteristic feature is the
presence of two submarginal eye-like spots on the hind
wing.

The larva feeds on everlasting ( Gnaphaliuni ) and allied
plants. The species occurs in Ontario and nearly the whole
of the United States.

Fig. 474. — Vanessa hunt era.

The Cosmopolitan Butterfly, Vanessa cardui (V. car'dU-i).
— The butterfly resembles the preceding very closely in
color and markings. There is, however, a smaller propor¬
tion of orange markings ; and on the lower surface of the
hind wings there is a submarginal row of four or five eye¬
like spots.

The larva feeds upon Composite, especially thistles.
This species is very remarkable for its wide distribution.
Mr. Scudder states that “with the exception of the arctic

regions and South Ameri¬
ca it is distributed over
the entire extent of every
continent.”

The American Tor¬
toise-shell, Aglais milberti
(Ag'la-is mil-ber'ti). — The
wings above are brownish
black, with abroad orange-
fulvous band between the middle and the outer margin.

Fig. 475. — Aglais milberti.

LEP1D0P TER A.

403

There are two fulvous spots in the discal-cell of the front
wing (Fig. 475).

The larvae feed upon nettle ( Urtica ) ; they are gregarious
in their early stages. This species occurs in the northern
portions of the United States and in Canada.

The Mourning-cloak, Euvanessa antiopa (Eu-va-nes'sa
an-ti'o-pa). — The wings above are purplish brown, with a
broad yellow border on the outer margin sprinkled with
brown, and a submarginal row of blue spots. The upper
surface is represented by Figure 476, the lower by Plate VI,

Fig- 5-

The larvae live on willow, elm, poplar, and Celtis ; they
are gregarious, and often strip large branches of their
leaves. The species is usually two-brooded. “This butter-

FlG. 476. — Euvanessa antiopa.

fly is apparently distributed over the entire breadth of the
Northern Hemisphere below the Arctic Circle as far as the
thirtieth parallel of latitude ” (Scudder).

The Compton Tortoise, Eugonia j-alburn (Eu-go'ni-a j-al -
bum). — This butterfly (Fig. 477) resembles in its general
appearance those of the genus Polygonia, but it is sharply dis¬
tinguished from them by the inner margin of the fore wings
being nearly straight, by the heavier markings of the fore

404

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

wings, and by the presence of a whitish spot on both fore
and hind wings, near the apex, and between two larger
black patches. On the lower surface of the hind wings
there is a small L-shaped silvery bar. This species occurs

Fig. 477. — Eugonia j-album.

throughout Canada and the northern portion of the United
States east of the Rocky Mountains.

Polygonia (Pol-y-go'ni-a). — The butterflies of this genus
resemble the preceding species in having a metallic spot on
the lower surface of the hind wings, but differ in having the
inner margin of the fore wings roundly notched beyond the
middle. Nearly a dozen species occur in this country.
These differ principally in the coloring and markings of the
under surface of the hind wings. The following are some
of the more common ones : —

The Green Comma, Polygonia faunas (P. fau'nus). — The
silvery mark of the hind wings is usually in the form of
a C or a G, the ends being more or less expanded (Plate VI,
Fig. 2), but sometimes it is reduced to the form of an L.
The lower surface of the wings is more greatly variegated
than in any other species of this genus ; and there is a larger
amount of green on this surface than in any other of the
eastern species, there being two nearly complete rows of
green spots on the outer third of each wing.

The larva feeds upon black birch, willow, currant, and

LEPIDOPTERA .

405

wild gooseberry. This is a Canadian species ; but it is also
found in the mountains of New England and of New York,
and in the northern portions of the Western States, extend¬
ing as far south as Iowa.

The Hop-merchant, Polygonia comma (P. com'ma).
— As in the preceding species, the silvery mark of the
hind wings is in the form of a C or a G (PI. VI, Fig. 3);
but the general color of the lower surface of the hind wings
is very different, being marbled with light and dark brown ;
and the green spots so characteristic of faunus are repre¬
sented here by a few liliaceous scales on a submarginal row
of black spots.

Two forms of this species occur. In one, P. comma dry as ,
the hind wings above are suffused with black on the outer
half, so that the submarginal row of fulvous spots is ob¬
scured, and on the lower side the wings are more yellowish
than in the other form. The latter is known as P. comma
harrisii (P. c. har-ris'i-i).

The larva feeds upon hop, elm, nettle, and false-nettle.
It is often abundant in hop-yards, and the chrysalids are
commonly known as hop-merchants, from a saying that the
golden or silvery color of the metallic spots on the back of
the chrysalis indicates whether the price of hops is to be
high or low. This species is found in Canada and the
northern part of the eastern half of the United States; its
range extends south to North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas,
and Indian Territory.

The Gray Comma, Polygonia progne (P. prog'ne).—
In its general appearance this butterfly closely resembles
P : comma , but it can be readily distinguished by the form
of the silvery mark, which is L-shaped and tapers towards
'che ends.

The larva feeds on currant, wild gooseberry, and rarely
elm. This species occurs in Canada and in the northern por¬
tion of the United States except in the extreme West.

The Violet Tip, Polygo7iia interrogationis (P. in-ter*

406

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

ro-ga-ti-o'nis). — This butterfly (Plate VI, Fig. 8) is some¬
what larger than the preceding species of Polygonia, and
differs in the form of the silvery mark, which consists of a
dot and a crescent, resembling somewhat an interrogation-
mark, but more nearly a semicolon. On the upper side the
outer margins of the wings and the tails of the hind wings
are tinged with violet.

This species is dimorphic ; and the two forms differ so
constantly and in such a marked manner that they were
described as distinct species. In P. interrogation^ fabricii
(P. i. fa-bric'i-i) the upper surface of the hind wings is not much
darker than that of the fore wings, and there is a submarginal
row of fulvous spots in the broad ferruginous brown border.
In P. interrogationis umbrosa (P. i. um-bro'sa) the outer two
thirds of the upper surface of the hind wings is blackish, and
the submarginal fulvous spots are obliterated, except some¬
times faint traces near the costal margin.

This species is found in Canada and throughout the
United States east of the Rocky Mountains.

IV. The Sovereigns . — These butterflies differ from other
Nymphalinae in having the club of the antennas marked by
four slightly elevated lines, and in that veins I, II, and III
of the hind wing (Fig. 467, p. 395) separate at the same
point. This group includes some of our most elegant but¬
terflies ; the larvae are grotesque in appearance, being very
irregular in form and strikingly mottled or spotted.

The Banded Purple, Basilarchia arthemis (Bas-i-lar'chi-a
ar'the-mis). — The upper surface of the wings is velvety
chocolate-black, marked with a conspicuous white bow
(Fig. 478).

This is a Canadian species which extends a short distance
into the northern part of the United States ; the larva feeds
on birch, willow, poplar, and many other plants.

The Red Spotted Purple, Basilarchia astyanax (B,
as-ty'a-nax). — The upper surface of the wings is velvety
indigo-black, tinged with blue or green. There are three

LEPIDOP TER A.

407

rows of blue or green spots on the outer third of the hind
wings ; the spots of the inner row vary greatly in width in
different individuals. On the lower surface there is a reddish
orange spot in the discal cell of the fore wings, and one on
the discal vein ; on the hind wings there are two orange spots
similarly situated, a third at the base of cell IT, and a row of

Fig 478. — Basilarchia arthemis.

seven spots just within a double row of submarginal blue
or green spots.

This species occurs throughout nearly the whole of the
Eastern United States south of the 43d parallel of latitude.
The larva feeds on many plants ; among them are plum,
apple, pear, and gooseberry.

The Hybrid Purple, Basilarchia astyanax-arthemis . —
There occurs, along a narrow belt of country extending from
southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois eastward to the
Atlantic coast of New England, a butterfly that closely re¬
sembles the Red-spotted Purple, but which has more or less
of the white band of the Banded Purple. This is believed
to be a hybrid between these two species. The region in
which it occurs is that in which the ranges of the two species
overlap. North of this region, of these three forms only the
Banded Purple occurs ; south of it only the Red-spotted
Purple is found.

The Viceroy, Basilarchia archippus (B. ar-chip'pus). —
* The wings vary in color from a dull yellow orange tinged

408

THE STUD V OF INSECTS.

slightly with brown to a dark cinnamon color; they are
bordered with black, and all the veins are edged with the
same color (Fig. 479). The fringe of the wings is spotted
with white, and the black border on the outer margin con¬
tains a row of white spots.

Fig. 479 — Basilarchta archif>f>us%

This species is remarkable for its resemblance to the
Monarch ( Anosia plexippus , Fig. 469). But aside from the
structural characters separating the two subfamilies which
these butterflies represent, the Viceroy can be easily distin¬
guished from the species it mimics by its smaller size, and
by the presence of a transverse black band on the hind
wings.

It is believed that the resemblance of these two species
is not merely accidental, but is a result of the action of the
law of natural selection. The butterflies of the subfamily
to which the Monarch belongs ( Euplceince ) are exempt from
the attacks of birds. It is supposed that this exemption is
due to the possession by these butterflies of a disagreeable
odor. With such an odor the conspicuous coloring of the
butterflies is protective, the birds soon learning that such
butterflies are not fit for food. And it can be seen that these
birds will naturally leave undisturbed any other butterflies

LEPIDOPTERA .

409

that resemble the ill-smelling ones, even though they do not
possess a similar odor. According to the theory of natural
selection these resemblances have been produced as follows.
In the case of a variable species that is unprotected by any
disagreeable quality, any variation towards a protected spe¬
cies will tend to preserve the life of the individual possessing
it. And in turn such offspring of these individuals as still
more nearly resemble the protected species will be most
likely to be preserved. The continued action of this natural
selection will result in producing a species that closely re¬
sembles the protected one, even though it may be very
different structurally from the one that it mimics.

Many instances of unconscious mimicry of this kind are
known. They are especially abundant in the tropics where
the foul-smelling Heliconince are most abundant. The bad
odor of these butterflies when living is so marked that it
can be detected by the human nose; and it is found that
many species of them are mimicked by other butterflies, and
especially those of the Pieridae. The mimicry is not con¬
fined to similarity in coloring, but extends to the shape of
the wings and manner of flight.

The larva of the Viceroy feeds upon willow, poplar, balm
of gilead, aspen, and cottonwood. The species two- or three-
brooded, and hibernates as a partially grown larva in a
nest made of a rolled leaf. This nest is lined with silk,
and the leaf is fastened to the twig with silk so that it can¬
not fall during the winter. Mr. Scudder states that so far
as is known to him all of the species of the Sovereigns hi¬
bernate as larvae in nests of this kind. It is worthy of note
that only the autumn brood of caterpillars make these nests.
So that the nest-building instinct appears only in alternate
generations, or even less frequently when the species is
more than two-brooded. B. archippus is found over nearly
the whole of the United States as far west as the Sierra
Nevada Mountains, and has been found sparingly even to
the Pacific coast near our northern boundaries.

4io

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

As Anosia plexippus lias been termed the Monarch, this
species is aptly called the Viceroy.

V. The Emperors . — The butterflies of this group are
found chiefly in the southern part of our country. The fol¬
lowing is the best known species : —

The Goat-weed Butterfly, Ancea andria (A-nae'a an'-
dri-a). — The female of this species can be easily recognized
by Figure 480. The male is smaller, with wings of a rich

Fig. 480. — A /Ufa andria.

dark orange, margined with brown, and without the light-
colored band characteristic of the female.

This species is found in the Western States from Illinois
to Texas. The larva feeds on goat-weed {Croton).

Subfamily SATYRlNiE (Sat-y-ri'nae).

The Meadow-browns or Satyrs.

This subfamily includes chiefly brown butterflies whose
markings consist almost entirely of eye-like spots. Some
western species, however, are bright-colored. Our forms
can be easily recognized by their having some of the veins
of the fore wings greatly swollen at the base.

The larvae are cylindrical, tapering more or less towards
each end. The caudal segment is bifurcated, a character
that distinguishes them from all other American butterfly

LEPIDOPTERA.

41 1

larvae excepting those of some of the Emperors ( Clilorippe ),
not described in this book. Nearly sixty species belonging
to this subfamily have been described from America north
of Mexico.

The Eyed Brown, Satyrodes eurydice (Sat-y-ro'des eu-
ryd'i-ce). — The upper surface
of the wings is soft mouse-
brown on the basal half and
paler beyond, considerably so
in the female ; each wing bears
a row of four or five small
black eye-like spots (Fig. 481).

This species is found in Onta¬
rio, and throughout the east¬
ern half of the United States.

The Dull-eyed Grayling, Cercyonis nepliele (Cer-cy'o-nis
neph'e-le). — The two most conspicuous of the Meadow-
browns that occur east of the Rocky Mountains are this
and the following one ; they are comparatively large
species, expanding from two inches to two and one fourth
inches ; both are dark brown. In this species there are on
the upper surface of the fore wing on the outer third of
the wing two black spots with white or bluish centers ;
sometimes the wing is tinged with yellow in the vicinity of
these spots, but generally the tinge is very slight, and it is
never so deep as in the next species; the hind wing is with
or without a spot in cell VII, , and sometimes with a spot on
either side of this one. On the lower surface the eye-like
spots of the fore wings are distinctly ringed with yellowish ;
and the hind wings are with or without eye-like spots,
usually with six of them. (See the Hybrid Graylings,
below.)

The Blue-eyed Grayling, Cercyonis alope (C. al'o-pe). —
This species closely resembles the preceding, but it is dis¬
tinguished by the presence of a distinct yellow or pale orange
band on the outer half ^of the fore wings.

Fig. 481. — Satyrodes eurydice.

412

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The larvae of both of these species feed upon grass ;
the butterflies fly during the latter half of the summer,
and the larvae begin hibernating as soon as hatched.

The Hybrid Graylings, Cercyonis alope-nephele. — The
Dull-eyed Grayling is a northern species, occurring in
Canada and the northern part of the United States. The
Blue-eyed Grayling is found throughout the greater part of
the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, except in
the extreme North and South. The ranges of the two
overlap in the southern portions of New England, New
York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska; and in the
northern portions of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. In this
belt both species occur, and also intergrades between them ;
these intergrades may be called Hybrid Graylings.

The White Mountain Butterfly, (Ends semidea (CE-ne'is
se-mid'e-a). — Comparatively few students who study this
book will collect this butterfly; but we refer to it on ac*
count of its remarkable distribution. It is found only on
the higher parts (above 5000 feet) of the White Mountains
in New Hampshire, and on the highest peaks of the Rocky
Mountains of Colorado, above 12,000 feet.

These two widely separated colonies of this butterfly are
believed to be the remnants of an Arctic fauna which was
forced southward during the Ice Age. At the close of this
period, as the Arctic animals followed the retreating ice
northward, the tops of these mountains became colonized
by the cold-loving forms. Here they found a congenial
resting place, while the main body of their congeners, which
occupied the intervening region, was driven northward by
the increasing heat of the lower land. Here they remain,
clinging to these islands of cold projecting above the fatal
sea of warmth that fills the valleys below.

CHAPTER XIX.

Order DlPTERA (Dip'te-ra).

The Flies .

The members of this order have only two wings ; these
are borne by the meso thorax. The metathorax is furnished
with a pair of knobbed threads , the halteres . The mouth-
parts are formed for sucking . The metamorphosis is com¬
plete.

To the order Diptera belong all insects that are properly
termed flies, and only these. The word “fly” forms a
part of many compound names of insects of other orders,
as butterfly, stone-fly, May-fly, and Chalcis-fly ; but when
used alone, it is correctly applied only to dipterous insects.
To some flies other common names have been applied, as
mosquito, gnat, and midge.

The name Diptera is from two Greek words: dis, two,
and pteron , a wing. It was suggested by the fact that the
flies are distinguished by the possession of a single pair of
wings ; for no fly has more than two wings, and only a few
are wingless.

The wings of flies are thin, membranous, and usually
either naked or clothed with microscopic hairs; but with
mosquitoes the wings bear scales, and with the moth-like
flies (Psychodidas) and some others the clothing of hairs is
very conspicuous. The hind wings are represented by a
pair of knobbed threads, the halteres (hal-te'res) ; these can
be easily seen in a crane-fly (Fig. 482). The function of

413

414

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

these rudimentary wings is not known ; but they doubtless
have some important use, for they are present in nearly all
flies, even when the front wings are wanting.

The mouth-parts of flies are formed for sucking, and
sometimes also for piercing. Their structure differs greatly

in different families; and
in some cases it is exceed¬
ingly difficult to determine
the correspondence of the
different parts. In the
more typical forms the
mouth-parts consist of six
bristle -like or lance -like
organs enclosed in a sheath,
and a pair of jointed palpi.
A difference of opinion
exists as to the corre-

Fig. 482. — A crane-fly, showing wings and Spondence of these parts J

halteres.

but according to the most

generally accepted view the six bristles represent the
upper lip ( labruni ), the tongue ( hypopharynx ), the two man¬
dibles, and the two maxillae, and the sheath enclosing these
bristles is the lower lip (labium). The palpi which are not
enclosed in the sheath are the maxillary palpi. At the tip
of the lower lip there is, on each side, a lobe-like appendage ;
these are the labial palpi. The labial palpi of certain flies
are quite large; in the House-fly, for example, they are ex¬
panded into broad plates, which are fitted for rasping.

In their transformations flies pass through a complete
metamorphosis. The larvae are commonly called maggots.
These are usually cylindrical and are footless; some possess
a distinct head, others do not; the form of the mouth-parts
varies greatly in the different families; and there arc re¬
markable variations in the form of the respiratory organs,
especially as to the number and position of the spiracles.
The pupae are usually either naked or enclosed in the last

DIP TER A.

415

larval skin. A few are enclosed in cocoons. When the
pupa state is passed within the last larval skin the body of
the pupa separates from the larval skin more or less com¬
pletely ; but the larval skin is not broken till the adult fly
is ready to emerge. In this case the larval skin, which
serves as a cocoon, is termed a pupariuni (pu-pa'ri-um). In
some families the puparium retains the form of the larva ;
in others the body of the
larva shortens, assuming a
more or less barrel-shaped
form (Fig. 483, 2), before
the change to a pupa takes
place.

This is a large order,
both in number of species
and individuals. The spe¬
cies differ much in habits.

Some are very annoying to
man. Familiar examples
are the mosquito, which
attacks his person ; the
flesh-flies, which infest his
food ; the bot-flies and gad¬
flies that torment his cat¬
tle ; and the gall-gnats that
destroy his crops. Other
species are very beneficial.

Those belonging to the
Syrphidae, and to the sub¬
family Tachininas of the
Muscidae destroy many noxious insects ; and very many
species, while in the larval state, feed upon decaying animal
and vegetable matter, thus acting as scavengers.

Although the habits of these creatures, which revel in
all kinds of filth, are very disgusting, we cannot help admir¬
ing that arrangement by which a mass of filth, instead of

Fig. 483.— The Apple-maggot; i. larva; 2, pupa¬
rium; 3, adult; 1a, head of larva from side,
showing mouth-parts and cephalic spiracle ;
ib, head of larva from below ; ic, caudal
spiracle of larva.

416

the study of insects .

being left to poison the atmosphere, is transformed into
myriads of living beings, whose swift flight and delicate
forms lend life and beauty to the landscape.

SYNOPSIS OF THE DIPTERA.

The Straight- Seamed Flies.— Flies in which the pupa escapes
from the larval skin through a T-shaped opening, which is

formed by a lengthwise split on the
back near the head end and a crosswise
split at the front end of this (Fig. 484),
F,G- 484. or rarely through a crosswise split be¬

tween the seventh and eighth abdominal segments, adults without
a frontal lunule.* Suborder Orthorrhapha (Or-thor'rha-pha).
The Long-horned Orthorrhapha or Nematocera (Nem-a-toc'e-ra).
Flies with four- or five-jointed pendulous palpi and with many-
jointed antennae, which are usually long. The segments of the
antennae, except the basal two, are similar in form, and are more
than six in number; they are often fringed with hairs or
bristles.f

* The frontal lunule is a small crescent-shaped piece immediately above
the antennae, which is characteristic of the second suborder, the Cyclor-
rhapha. In most of the members of this suborder there
is a suture separating the lunule from that part of the head
above it, the frontal suture; and frequently this suture
extends down on each side to near the mouth (Fig. 485).

But as the suture is wanting in several families of the
Cyclorrhapha, it is often difficult to determine whether
the lunule is present or not. The following statement

will enable the student to recognize nearly all of the

. . , - . . Fig. 485. — Head

members of the first suborder. showing frontal

The suborder Orthorrhapha includes : — suture

All flies in which the antenna are more than three-jointed, not counting
a bristle or style borne by the third segment.

All flics with three-jointed antenna in which vein III is four-branched.

Such of the flies in which vein VI Ia appears like a cross-vein, or curves
back towards the base of the wing, as lack the suture above the antenna.
This section includes only a few Empidida and the families Dolichopodida and
Lonchopterida. Nearly all of the flies in which vein VII2 is of the form
described here possess the suture above the antenna, and hence belong to
the Cyclorrhapha.

f The two types of antenna characteristic of the Nematocera and
Brachycera respectively are: connected by intermediate forms. These

DIPT ERA.

417

The True Nematocera . The antennae usually long and frequently
bearing whorls of long hairs, especially in the males ; legs long
and slender; abdomen usually long and slender.

The Moth-like Flies , Family Psychodiix/e. p. 428.

The Midge-like Flies.

The Crane-flies, Family TipuliDjE. p. 429.

The Net-winged Midges, Family BlepharoceridjE, p. 432.

The Dixa-midges, Family DixiDiE. p. 436.

The Mosquitoes, Family Culicidas. p. 437.

The Midges, Family ChironomiDjE. p. 440.

The Fungus-gnats, Family MycetophiliD/E. p. 442.

The Gall-gnats, Family CeCidomyiid^e. p. 444.

The Anomalous Nematocera . The antennae are composed of
many segments, but are shorter than the thorax, and without
whorls of long hairs. The segments of the antennae are short
and broad and closely pressed together. Except in the first
family, the abdomen is comparatively stout, and the legs are
shorter and stouter than in the True Nematocera.

The False Crane-flies, Family RhyphidjE. p. 448.

The Solitary-midge, Family OrphnephilidjE. p. 449.

The March-flies, Family Bibionid-E. p. 449.

The Black-flies, Family SiMULIlDiE. p. 451.

The Short - horned Orthorrhapha or Brachycera (Bra-chyc'e-ra).
Orthorrhapha with one- or two-jointed, porrect palpi, and with
usually short, three-jointed antennae. The third segment of the
antenna is sometimes distinctly ringed, showing that it is really
composed of many segments grown together; and sometimes
the antennae are four- or five-jointed.

The Anomalous Brachycera . The third segment of the antenna is
ringed, showing that it is composed of several segments grown
together. The body is not furnished with strong bristles.

The Horse-flies, Family TabaniDjE. p. 453.

occur in those families grouped below as the Anomalous Brachycera (see
Figs. 489, 490, and 492). The Nematocera and Brachycera are more
sharply distinguished by the form of the palpi, as indicated in this Synopsis ;
but sometimes it is difficult to see the palpi. A more easily seen distinction
is presented by the venation of the wings. In the Anomalous Brachycera
cell Va is divided by a cross-vein and cell VIII is closed before the margin of
the wing or is greatly narrowed at the margin of the wing (see Figs. 539,
545, and 551). In the Nematocera cell VIII is never closed, and cell Va is
divided only in the Tipulidae and Rhyphidae, and in these families the
antennae are distinctly composed of many segments.

28

418

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

The Soldier-flies, Family Stratiomyiid/E. p. 455.

The Snipe-flies (in part). Family Leptid.e. p. 456.

The True Brachycera . The antennae are usually three-jointed,
but sometimes four- or five-jointed; the third segment is not
ringed, but usually bears a style or bristle.* The body is
usually furnished with strong bristles.

True Brachycera with the empodia pulvilliform . Flies in which
there are three membranous lobes beneath the tarsal claws
(Fig. 495).t

The Snipe-flies (in part), Family Leptid^e. p. 456.

The Small-headed Flies, Family AcroceridjE. p. 458.

The Tangle- veined Flies, Family Nemistrinid/E, p. 459.
True Brachycera with the empodia not pulvilliform. Flies in
which there are only two membranous pads beneath the
tarsal claws (Fig. 494).

Vein III of the wings four-branched.

The Robber-flies, Family Asilid^e. p. 460.

The Midas-flies, Family Midaid^e. p. 461.

The Apiocerids, Family Apiocerid/E. p. 462.

The Bee-flies, Family BoMBYLiDiE. p. 463.

The Stiletto-flics, Family Therevid^e. p. 464.

The Window-flies, Family ScenopiniD/E. p. 465.

The Dance-flies (in part), Family Empidid^e. p. 4 66.

Vein III of the wings three-branched .

The Dance-flies (in part), Family Empidid.e. p. 466.

The Long-legged Flies, Family Dolichopodid.e. p. 467.
The Spear-winged Flies, Family LoNCHOPTERiDiE. p. 469.
The Circular-Seamed Flies. — Flies in which the pupa escapes
from the larval skin through a circular orifice made by push¬
ing off the head end of it (Fig. 486). Adults with a
frontal lunule. Suborder Cyclorrhapha (Cy-clor'rha-
pha).

Cyclorrhapha without a frontal suture (Aschiza).

The Syrphus-flies, Family Syrphid^e. p. 470.

The Big-eyed Flies, Family Pipunculida:. p. 473.

The Flat-footed Flies, Family PLATYPEZiDiE. p. 474.
The Humpbacked flies, Family Phorid^E. p. 475.

* A similar type of antenna is possessed by the Cyclorrhapha, which
were formerly on this account included in the Brachycera ; but this term is
now restricted to the Short-horned Orthorrhapha.

f The empodia are pulvilliform in the Anomalous Brachycera also ; but
that group is easily distinguished by the form of the antennae.

Fig. 486.

DIP TER A,

419

Cyclorrhapha with a frontal suture (SCHIZOPHORA)

Normal Schizophora.

The Thickhead-flies, Family ConopiDjE. p. 476.

The Bot-flies, Family CEstriDjE. p. 477.

The Muscids, Family MusciDiE. p. 479.

The Pupa-bearing Flies (Pupipara).

The Louse-flies, Family Hippoboscid^e. p. 487.

The Bat-ticks, Family NycteribuDjE. p. 489.

The Bee-louse, Family BRAULlDiE. p. 489.

Classification of the Diptera.

(For advanced students .)

In the following table for determining the families of the Diptera
use is made chiefly of characters based on the form of the head, an¬
tennae, and wings.

The more important of the characters presented by the head are
the presence or absence of the frontal lunule, and the presence or ab¬
sence of the frontal suture when the lunule is present. (See page 416,
note.) In those families that possess the frontal suture there exists
a large bladder-like organ, the ptilinum (ptil'i-num), which is pushed
out through this suture when the adult is about to emerge from the
puparium. In this way the head end of the puparium is forced off,
making a large opening through which the adult escapes ; afterwards
the ptilinum is withdrawn into the head. If a specimen is captured
soon after its emergence from the puparium, there may be seen in¬
stead of the frontal suture the bladder-like ptilinum projecting from
the head, immediately above the antennae.

The form of the antennae is of prime importance in determining
to what family a fly belongs. In the more generalized families the
antenna consists of many segments, which, except the basal two, are
similar in form (Fig. 487). Frequently such antennae bear whorls of
long hairs (Fig. 488). In the more specialized families there is a re¬
duction in the number of segments of the antenna. This is brought
about either by a more or less complete consolidation of the segments
beyond the second into a single segment (Figs. 489 and 490), or by a
dwindling of the terminal segments, so that they form merely a slen¬
der style (Fig. 491) or bristle (Fig. 492). Such a bristle is termed by
many writers the arista (a-ris'ta). In most cases where a style or
arista exists it is borne by the third segment, and this segment is then
usually greatly enlarged. When the enlargement of this segment has
taken place evenly the style or arista is terminal; but frequently one
part of the third segment is expanded so that it projects beyond the

420

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS .

insertion of the arista (Fig. 493) ; then the arista is said to be
dorsal.

The legs vary greatly in length and in stoutness. The coxae are
usually long, and in most of the fungus-gnats (Mycetophilidae) they
are very long. When pulvilli are developed they are membranous
pads, one beneath each tarsal claw. A third appendage, the empo-
dium (em-po'di-um), often exists between the two pulvilli of each tar-

Fig. 487. Fig. 488. Fig. 489. Fig. 490. Fig. 491.

sus. The empodia may be bristle-like, or tapering (Fig. 494), or
membranous, resembling the pulvilli in form (Fig. 495); in the last
case they are described a s pulvilliform .

Variations in the form and venation of the wings afford charac¬
ters that are much used in the classification of flies. In many fami-

Fig. 492. Fig. 493. Fig. 494. Fig. 495.

lies there is a notch in the inner margin of the wing near its base
(Fig. 496, a e) ; this is the axillary excision / that part of the wing
lying between the axillary excision and the base of the wing is the
posterior lobe (Fig. 496, /). In certain families there is a membrane
beneath the base 0/ the wing and above the halter or rudimentary

DIP TER A.

421

hind wing; this is the. alula (al'u-la) or alulet (al'u-let). The alulse
are well developed in the common House-fly. Each alula, in those
species where the alulae are well developed, consists of two lobes
which fold over each other when the wings are closed. The alulse
are called the tegulcz by many writers on Diptera; but the term tegula

Fig. 496. — Wing of Conops: ae, axillary excision ; /, posterior lobe.

was first used in insect anatomy for the cup-like scale which covers
the base of the wing in certain insects, as most Hymenoptera, and
should be restricted to that use. The terms alula and alulet are also
often misapplied, being used to designate the posterior lobe of the
wing.

The plan of the venation of the wings can be easily learned by a
study of the wing of Rhypkus (Fig. 497), which is very generalized in
structure, except that vein III is only three-branched, while in cer¬
tain still more generalized forms it is five-branched (e.g., Protoplasa ,
Fig. 504; and Psychoda , Fig. 500). In the figures of wings in this
chapter both the veins and the cells are numbered. The numbers
outside of the margin of the wing refer to the veins ; those within, to
the cells, except when otherwise indicated by a dotted line or by an
arrow. It should be remembered that each cell bears the same num¬
ber as the vein that forms its front margin when the wings are spread.
When a cell is divided by a cross-vein the two parts are numbered
1st and 2d. Thus in Rhyphus , cell V3 is divided, and the parts are
designated as the 1st cell V2 and the 2d cell V2 (Fig. 497, 1st Va, 2d
Va). A cross-vein is marked cv.

In the Diptera veins IV and VI are not developed. Vein I ex¬
tends along the costal margin of the wing; it usually ends somewhere
near the apex of the wing; in Rhyphus it ends at the tip of vein III4+5
(Fig. 497). In some families it extends entirely around the wing; it
is then called the ambient vein. Vein II is simple. Vein III is typi¬
cally five-branched; but the number of branches is usually reduced to

422

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

four or to three. Vein V is three-branched in the more generalized
forms. Vein VII is two-branched. Vein VIII is usually merely a
concave fold just behind vein VII and parallel with that vein; it is
represented in most of the figures of wings by a dotted line. Vein IX
is usually present; and sometimes vein XI also exists.

One of the most marked features in the specialization of the wings
of Diptera is a tendency of the veins to coalesce from the margin of
the wing towards the base. This is illustrated by the wing of Cotiops
(Fig. 496). In this genus veins III4+6 and Vi+a coalesce at the mar¬
gin of the wing; veins V* and VII, coalesce for nearly their entire

Fig. 497. — Wing of Rhyphus.

length. The result of this coalescence is to cause the free part of
vein V3 to appear like a cross-vein between cells V and the 1st cell
Va. Veins Vila and IX also coalesce at the margin of the wing.

In a few genera of flies certain longitudinal veins are bent so as
to form a sharp angle, and from this angle a spur is developed. Thus
in Protoplasa there is a sharp angle near the base of vein IIIa+» which
bears a spur (Fig. 504, s') ; in Erax a similar spur is formed on vein
III4 (Fig. 559, s) ; and in Pantarbes this spur on vein III4 is prolonged
so as to form a complete cross-vein dividing cell III* into two parts
(Fig. 564).

TABLE FOR DETERMINING THE FAMILIES OF THE DIPTERA.

A. Flies in which the abdomen is distinctly segmented, and the two
legs of each thoracic segment are not widely separated. Habits
various, but the adults do not live parasitically upon either birds
or mammals.

B. Antennae consisting of more than three segments. (Note that
a style or bristle borne by the third segment is not counted as a
segment.)

DIP TER A.

423

C, Antennae consisting of more than five distinct segments, the
segments beyond the second not consolidated; cell VIII of
the wings but slightly narrowed at the margin of the wing, if
at all ; palpi usually elongate, and composed of from three to
five segments.

D. Small moth-like flies, with the body and wings densely
clothed with hairs and scales. Wings with from nine to
eleven longitudinal veins, but with no cross-veins except
sometimes near the base of the wings (Fig. 500). p. 428.

PSYCHODIDjE.

DD. Flies that do not resemble moths in appearance.

E. Dorsum of thorax with a distinct V-shaped suture (Fig.

503). p. 429 . TlPULIDiE.

EE. Dorsum of thorax without a distinct V-shaped suture.

F. Vein V of the wings three-branched; cell Va divided

by a cross-vein (Fig. 527). p. 448 . RhyphiDjE.

FF. Vein V of the wings simple or two-branched ; cell V,
not divided by a cross-vein.

G. Wings with a network of fine lines near the outer
and inner margins in addition to the veins (Fig. 506).

p. 432 . ... BLEPHAROCERIDiE.

GG. Wings without a network of fine lines.

H. The margin of the wings and each of the wing-
veins fringed with scales (Fig. 512). p. 437.

CulicidjE.

HH. The wing- veins with or without a fringe of hairs,
but without a fringe of flat scales.

I. Anal veins entirely wanting; vein V wanting or

at most represented by a single unbranched fold
(Fig. 522). p. 444 . CECIDOM YIIDiE.

II. Anal veins present or represented by folds ; vein
V present or at least represented by a fold which
is usually branched.

J. Ocelli present.

K. Antennae shorter than the thorax; legs
comparatively short and stout ; coxae not un¬
usually long. p.449 . BlBIONIDiE.

KK. Antennae usually longer than the thorax ;
legs slender, and with greatly elongate coxae

(Fig. 518). p.442 . MYCETOPHILIDiE.

JJ. Ocelli absent.

K. Antennae short, not clothed with long hairs,

424

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

and with most of the segments wider than
long (Fig. 533) ; wings very broad (Fig. 534).

p. 451 . SlMULIIDiE.

KK. Antennae either bushy, being densely
clothed with long hairs or slender with nar¬
row segments; wings narrow or moderately
broad.

L. Wing-veins well developed on all parts of
the wing.

M. Vein IIIi ending at or near the end of
the second third of the costal margin.

p. 449 . OrPHNEPHILIDjE.

MM. Vein IIIi ending on the outer margin
of the wing (Fig. 509). p. 436. . Dixid/E.
LL. Wing-veins much stouter near the costal
margin of the wing than elsewhere (Fig.

517). p. 440 . CHIRONOMIDjE.

CC. Antennae either consisting of four or five distinct segments
or consisting of five or more segments, with those beyond the
second more or less closely consolidated so as to appear as a
single segment consisting of several subsegments (Figs. 489. 490,
492, and 537) ; cell VIII closed by the coalescence of the tips of
veins Vila and IX, or greatly narrowed at the margin of the
wing ; palpi rarely elongate, and composed of from one to three
segments.

D. Antennae consisting of four or five distinct segments,
empodia wanting or bristle-like.

E. Vein Ills, not curved forward towards the costal margin

of the wing (Fig. 559). p. 460 . Asilid^

EE. Vein Ills curved forward towards the costal margin of

the wing (Fig. 561). p.461 . Midaid^e.

DD. Antennae consisting of five or more segments, but with
those beyond the second more or less closely consolidated ;
empodia resembling pulvilli in form (Fig. 495).

E. The branches of vein III crowded together near the
costal margin of the wing, and the first cell V2 unusually

short and broad (Fig. 545). p. 455 . STRATlOMYllDiE.

EE. Venation of wings normal.

F, The alulets large, p.453 . Tabanid^e.

FF. The alulets small or wanting, p. 456. . , . . . LeptiDjE.
BB. Antennae consisting of not more than three segments ; the

DIP TER A.

425

third segment either with or without a style or bristle, but not
divided into subsegments.

C. Antennae consisting apparently of a single globular segment
bearing a long bristle ; wings with some stout veins near the
costal margin and other weaker ones extending across the
wing unconnected by cross-veins (Fig. 581). p. 475 .Phorid^e.
CC. Flies that do not present the type of venation represented
by Figure 581.

D. Cells V and first V2 not separated (see Fig. 571 for an ex¬
ample of this type).

£. Vein III with a knot-shaped swelling at the point of
separation of veins Ilia -P 3 and III4 + B; the cross-vein
1II-V at or near this swelling; no suture immediately

above the antennae, p.467 . Dolichopodid^e.

EE. Vein III with or without a swelling at the point of
separation of veins Ilia -4-3 and Ilh-K; the cross-vein
III-V more remote from base of wing; a suture immedi¬
ately above the antennae, p.479 . Muscidte.

DD. Cells V and V2 separate.

E. Vein III four-branched.

F. Venation intricate, due to an unusual anastomosing of

the veins (Fig. 555). p. 459 . Nemistrinidje.

FF. Venation not of the type represented by Figure 555.

G. Vertex of head distinctly hollowed out between the
eyes (Fig. 557); eyes never contiguous, p. 460.

ASILIDiE.

GG. Vertex of head not hollowed out between the eyes;

eyes often contiguous in males.

H. Alulets very large, p. 458 . Acroceridje.

HH. Alulets small or rudimentary.

I. Cell V8 present.

J. Vein Ills ending before the apex of the wing
(Fig. 562). p.462 . Apiocerid^e.

JJ. Vein Ills not ending before the apex of the
wing.

K. Empodia pulvilliform, />., with three mem¬
branous lobes beneath the tarsal claws (Fig.

495). p. 456 . Leptid^e.

KK. With only two membranous lobes beneath
the tarsal claws, p. 464 . Therevid^e.

II. Cell V3 obliterated by the coalescence of veins

Vs and VIIi.

426

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

J. Third segment of antennae without bristle or
style ; vein Vi ending at or before the apex of

the wing (Fig. 568). p. 465 . Scenopinid^e.

JJ. Third segment of antennae usually with bristle
or style ; vein Vi ending beyond the apex of the
wing.

K. Vein VI U extending free to the margin of
the wing or coalesced with vein IX for a short

distance (Fig. 564). p.463 . BombylidjE.

KK. Vein Vila joining vein IX far from the
margin of the wing, often extending towards
the base of the wing (Fig. 569). p. 466.

EmpididjE.

EE. Vein III with not more than three branches.

F. Wings lanceolate, and with no cross veins except at the

base (Fig. 572). p.469 . Lonchopteridje.

FF. Wings not of the type represented by Figure 572.

G. Flies with a very small head ; with the thorax and
abdomen inflated, giving the body a hunchback-like
appearance, and with the alulets very large. The
empodia pulvilliform, />., with three membranous lobes

beneath the tarsal claws, p. 458 . Acrocerid>e.

GG. Head of ordinary size or very large; form of thorax
and abdomen various; alulets either large or small.
The empodia not pulvilliform, i.e., only two membra¬
nous lobes beneath the tarsal claws.

H. Vein VI U appearing as a cross-vein or curved
back towards the base of the wing (Figs. 569, 588).

I. Antennae with a terminal style or arista, p. 466.

Empididje.

II. Antennae with a dorsal arista.

J. Proboscis rudimentary; mouth-opening small :

palpi wanting, p. 477 . CEstrid^e.

JJ. Proboscis not rudimentary ; palpi present.

K. Head with a suture immediately above the
antennae through which the ptilinum is pro¬
truded and withdrawn (Fig. 587). p. 479.

Muscidje.

KK. Head without such suture, p. 466.

Empidid^.

HH. Vein Vila not coalesced with vein IX to such an

DIP TER A. 427

extent as to cause the free part to appear like a
cross-vein.

I. Antenna with a terminal style or bristle.

J. Antenna with a terminal bristle, p. 474.

PLATYPEZIDiE.

JJ. Antenna with a terminal style.

K. Front with grooves or a depression beneath

the antennae, p.476 . Conopide.

KK. Front convex beneath the antennae,
p. 470 . Syrphide.

II. Antenna with dorsal bristle.

J. Head extremely large, and with nearly the en¬
tire surface occupied by the eyes (Fig. 577).

p. 473 . Pipunculide.

JJ. Head not of the type represented by Figure

577.

K. Wings with a vein-like thickening, the spu¬
rious vein, between veins III and V (Fig. 574).

p. 470 . SYRPHIDE.

KK. Wings without a spurious vein.

L. Front with grooves or a depression beneath

the antennae, p 476 . Conopide.

LL. Front convex beneath the antennae.

p. 470 . Syrphid^e.

AA. Flies in which the abdomen is indistinctly segmented, and the
two legs of each segment are widely separated by the broad ster¬
num. The adults live parasitically upon birds, mammals, or the
Honey-bee.

B. Compound eyes present ; wings present or absent, p. 487.

HlPPOBOSCIDE.

BB. Both compound eyes and wings absent.

C. Halteres present ; tarsal claws of ordinary form. Adults

parasite upon bats. p. 489 . Nycteribiide.

CC. Halteres absent ; last segment of tarsus with a pair of comb¬
like appendages. p.489 . BrAULIDE.

Suborder ORTHORRHAPHA (Or-thor'rha-pha).

The Straight-seamed Flies .

To this suborder belong those families of flies in which
the pupa escapes from the larval skin through a T-shaped

428

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

opening, which is formed by a lengthwise split on the back
near the head-end and a crosswise split at the front end of

this (Fig. 498). In a few members
of this suborder (i.e., some of the
Cecidomyiidai) the pupa escapes
through a crosswise split between

the seventh and eighth abdominal segments. The pupae
are usually either naked or enclosed in the last larval skin,
the puparium; but the pupae of some of the gall-gnats,
Cecidomyiidae, are enclosed in cocoons. The adult flies do
not possess a frontal lunule. Sec footnote page 416.

Family Psychodid^e (Psy-chod'i-dae).

The Moth-like Flies.

There may be found frequently upon windows and on
the lower surface of the foliage of trees small flies which
have the body and wings densely clothed with >/
hair and which resemble tiny moths in appear-
ance. The wings are broad, and when at rest
slope at the sides in a roof-like manner or are
held horizontally in such a way as to give the Flc 499._A
insect a triangular outline (Fig. 499). motii-iikc fly.

The moth -like appearance of these insects is sufficient to
distinguish them from all other flies. The venation of the

m4

nil*

Vila

Fig. 500. — Wing of a moth-like fly.

DIP TER A.

429

wings (Fig. 500) is also very peculiar. All of the longitu¬
dinal veins separate near the base of the wing except veins
IIIa and 1 1 13 and veins V\ and Va. In some forms veins
III4 and 1 1 1 b are distinct, as shown in the figure; in others
hey coalesce completely, so that radius is only four-branched.
In this case there is onlv a single vein between the two
forked veins.

The antennae are long and slender, and are clothed with
whorls of hairs (Fig. 501). Those of the male are longer;
and in the species figured the two
basal segments are clothed with scales
like those of the Lepidoptera. Scales
of this form occur also on the wings,
palpi, and legs of certain species.

Only a few of the American species
have been described ; these have been

Fir., tot. — Antennae of Psy-
olaced in the genus ljsycfl0u(l / the c/ioda. w, antenna of male
F 0 and the second segment of the

early stages of none of them have same more enlarged ; a an-

J o tenna of female and the tip

been observed. The larvae of some enlarged.

European species inhabit cow-dung, and others live in water.
They have a pair of spiracles at each end of the body.

As regards the structure of their wings these flies are very distinct
from all others. The pre-anal area, that part lying in front of vein
VIII, presents an extremely generalized form. This is shown by the
outline of the wing (a line drawn lengthwise of the wing through its
centre will divide it into two similar parts), the small extent to which
the veins coalesce, and the fact that the maximum number of veins is
present. On the other hand, the anal area is so reduced as to be
barely represented. The dotted line in the figure represents the
position of what is left of the anal furrow (i.e., vein VIII).

Family TlPULlD^E (Ti-pu'li-dae).

The Crane-flies .

The crane-flies are mosquito-like in form ; but they are
usually very much larger than mosquitoes. The body is
long and slender, the wings narrow, and the legs very

430

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

long (Fig. 502). This family includes the larger members
of that series of flies in which the antennae are thread-like ;
but it also includes some species that are not larger than
certain mosquitoes. The most distinctive feature of crane-
flies is the presence of a transverse V-shaped suture on
the dorsal side of the mesothorax (Fig. 503).

Fig. 502. — A crane-fly.

Fig. 503. — Tho¬
rax of a crane-
fly showing
the V-shaped
suture.

The wings are long and narrow. In a few genera vein
III is five-branched, and the branches separate near the
middle of the wing (Fig. 504) ; but usually the number of

11

Fig. 504. — Wing of Proloplasa Jitchii. (After Osten Sacken.)

branches is reduced to three or four; and those that remain
distinct separate near the apex of the wing (Fig. 505). Cell
V, is divided into two parts by a cross-vein ; the branches of
vein VII like those of vein III separate near the distal end
of the wing; and the margin of the wing is strengthened by
an ambient vein.

DIP TER A.

431

The structure of the ovipositor is also quite distinctive,
being composed of two pairs of long, horny, pointed valves.
These are fitted for depositing the eggs in the ground, or in
other firm substances.

The larvae of most species live in the ground ; and some
of them destroy grass and grain by gnawing the young
plants just below the surface of the soil. Those of other
species live in various situations, as in water, in decaying
wood, in fungi, and even on the leaves of plants. The larvae

FlG. 505. — Wing of Tipula abdomtnalis. .

of this family have either a single pair of spiracles situated
at the hind end of the body, or they have two pairs, one
at each end of the body. The pupae are not enclosed in
a puparium, and bear transverse rows of hairs, bristles, or
spines, which enable them to work their way out from the
earth when about to transform.

Crane-flies often appear in great numbers, flying over
meadows and pastures. But in most cases their power of
flight does not seem to be well developed; for they fly
slowly, and only a short distance at a time. Some species,
however, sustain themselves in the air for long periods.
This is especially true of some of the smaller species ; which
often collect in swarms at twilight, forming a small cloud,
and dancing up and down like some of the midges. But
even with these the flight is poor compared with that of the
more specialized families, as the Syrphidae or the Muscidae.
Their ability to walk is also poor ; for they use their long
legs awkwardly, as if they were in the way. This has sug¬
gested the rhyme : —

My six long legs, all here and there.

Oppress my bosom with despair."

432

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Not only are the legs of crane-flies poorly fitted for loco*
motion, but they are so feebly attached to the body that
they are easily broken off ; however, the loss of a few legs
does not seem to be a serious matter to one of these insects.
Yet from what we know of the laws of development we are
forced to believe that the peculiar form of the legs has been
attained in order to fit them to perform better some impor¬
tant function. It may be that the great length of the legs
is correlated with the unusual length of the abdomen and
ovipositor, and enables the insect to oviposit in a better
manner than would otherwise be possible. When about to
lay her eggs, the female stands nearly upright and, bringing
the abdomen at right angles to the surface of the earth,
thrusts the ovipositor into the ground. After placing one
or two eggs in the hole thus made, she moves forward a few
steps and repeats the operation.

Family BLEPHAROCERlDiE (Bleph-a-ro-cer'i-das).

The Net-winged Midges .

The net-winged midges are extremely remarkable in¬
sects; for in certain respects the structure of the adults is
very peculiar, and the larvae appear much more like Crusta¬
ceans than like Insects.

The adults are mosquito-like in form ; but they differ
from all other insects in having the wings marked by a net¬
work of fine lines which extend in various directions and
are not influenced at all by the veins of the wing (Fig. 506);
they are, however, quite constant in their position in the
species that we have studied.

When a wing i$ examined with a microscope, the fine
lines are seen to be slender thickenings extending along the
courses of slight folds in the wing. The significance of
these folds is evident when a net-winged midge is observed
in the act of issuing from its pupa-skin. When the wing is
first pulled out of the wing-sheath of the pupa, that part of

DIP TER A.

433

it which is crossed by the fine lines is plaited somewhat like
a fan and folded over the other portion. By this means the
wing, which is fully developed before the adult emerges, is
packed within the wing-sheath of the pupa, which is much
shorter and narrower than the wing. When the wing is

finally unfolded, it does not become perfectly flat, but
slight, alternating elevations and depressions remain, show¬
ing the positions of the former folds, a permanent record of
the unique history of the wings of these insects.

Ordinarily the wings of insects, while still in the wing-
sheaths of the pupa, are neither longer nor wider than the
wing-sheaths, but expand after the adult emerges from the
pupa skin. Usually it takes considerable time for the
wings to expand and become fit for flight ; and during this
interval the insect is in an almost helpless condition. In
certain caddice-flies that emerge from swiftly-flowing water,
the time required for the expansion of the wings has been
reduced to the minimum (see pp. 189, 190). In the net-
winged midges, which also emerge from swiftly-flowing
water, the difficulty is met by the wings reaching their full
development before the adult leaves the pupa-skin. It is
only necessary when the adult emerges from the water that
it should unfold its wings to be ready for flight.

The members of this family have three simple eyes.
Each compound eye is divided into two parts: an upper
half, in which the ocelli are very large ; and a lower half, in
29

434

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

which the ocelli are small. The antennas are thread-like,
but are not furnished with whorls of long hairs (Fig. 507).
The legs are very long. On the dorsum of the meso*
thorax there is on each side, beginning just in front
of the base of the wing, a well-marked suture, like
that of the crane-flies; but the two do not meet so
as to form a continuous V-shaped suture as in the
Tipulidae.

In some species at least there are two kinds of
^ females, which differ somewhat in the shape of the
Fig. 507. head. These two forms also differ in habits, one
being blood-sucking, the other feeding upon nectar.
The adults may be found resting on the foliage of shrubs
and trees on the margins of mountain-brooks, or dancing in
the spray of waterfalls.

The immature forms of these insects are even more
wonderful than are the adults. The larvae live in water, in
swiftly-flowing streams, where the water flows swiftest. We
have observed the transformations of Blepliarocera capitata
(Bleph-a-roc'e-ra cap-i-ta'ta), which is abundant in some of
the ravines near Ithaca, N. Y.

The larvae of this species are readily seen on account of
their black color, and are apt to attract attention on account
of their strange form (Fig.

508, a). At first sight the body
appears to consist of only seven
segments, but careful examina¬
tion reveals the presence of
smaller segments alternating
with these. Each of the larger
segments except the last bears
a pair of conical, leg-like appen¬
dages. On the ventral side of
the body (Fig. 508, b) each of
the seven larger segments except the last bears a sucker,
the cavity of which extends far into the body, and each

Fig. 508. — Blrfharocera . a, larva, dor*
view ;
puparium.

lept

sal view ; 6, larva, ventral view ; cv

DIP TER A.

435

of these segments except the first bears two tufts of tracheal
gills ; but those of the last segment are united. The
head, which forms the front end of the first of the seven
larger divisions, bears a pair of slender antennae ; each of
these consists of a very short basal segment and two long
segments; at the tip of the last of these there is a pair of
minute appendages and a bristle. The suture between the
head and the remaining part of the first division is best seen
on the ventral side of the body. On the dorsal side a
suture may be seen dividing the last division into two
segments.

The pupa-state is passed in the same place as the larval.
Like the larvae the pupae are very conspicuous on account
of their black color, and are apt to occur like the larvae
closely clustered together. The pupa is not enclosed in the
larval skin, and differs greatly in form from the larva. On
the dorsal side the skin is hard, forming a convex scale over
the body (Fig. 508, c ) ; and the thorax bears a pair of breath¬
ing-organs; on the ventral side the skin is very delicate, soft,
and transparent ; so that the developing legs and wings may
be easily seen when the insect is removed from the rock.
The pupae cling to the rock by means of six suckers, three
on each side near the edge of the lower surface of the abdo¬
men ; and so firmly do they cling that it is difficult to re¬
move specimens without breaking them.

We have watched the midges emerge from their pupa-
skins and escape from the water. The pupae occurred in
groups so as to form black patches on the rocks. Each one
was resting with its head down stream. Each midge on
emerging forced its way out through a transverse rent be¬
tween the thorax and abdomen. It then worked its body
out slowly, and in spite of the swift current held it vertical.
The water covering the patch of pupae varied from one
fourth to one half inch in depth. In the shallower parts
the adult had no trouble in working its way to the surface
still clinging to the pupa-skin by its very long hind legs.

436

THE STUD Y OF JN SECTS.

While still anchored by its legs the midge rests on the sur.
face of the water for one or two seconds and unfolds its
wings; then freeing its legs it takes flight. The adults
emerging from the deeper water were swept away by the
current before they had a chance to take wing. The time
required for a midge to work its way out of the pupa-skin
varied from three to five minutes.

Family Dixidje (Dix'i-dae).

The Dixa-midges.

These midges closely resemble mosquitoes in size and
form ; but they are easily distinguished by the venation of
their wings (Fig. 509).

Fig. 509.— Wing of Dixa .

The wing-veins are not furnished with scales, and are
distinct over the entire surface of the wing ; vein I is pro¬
longed into an ambient vein ; vein II is well
developed, but is short, ending in the margin of
the wing near its middle, ana before the first fork
of vein III ; vein III is four-branched ; vein V is
two-branched ; cell V, is not divided by a cross¬
vein ; and vein III, extends parallel to the mar¬
gin of the wing to a point on the outer end
of the wing. The antennae (Fig. 510) are six-
teen-jointed, and differ but slightly in the two
sexes ; the legs are very long and slender ; and
he caudal end of the abdomen of the male is fig. 5ia
enlarged.

DIP TER A.

437

The family includes only a single genus, Dixa .

We have found the adult midges common on rank her¬
bage, growing in a swampy place, in a shady forest.

Family CULICID^ (Cu-lic'i-dae).

The Mosquitoes .

The form of mosquitoes is so well known that it would
be unnecessary to characterize the Culicidae were it not
that there are certain mosquito-like insects that are liable
to be mistaken for members of this family.

The mosquitoes are small flies, with the abdomen long
and slender, the wings narrow, the antennae
plumose in the males (Fig. 511), and usu-
ally with a long, slender, but firm proboscis.

The thorax lacks the transverse V-shaped
suture characteristic of the crane-flies ; and
vein V of the wings is only two-branclied
(Fig. 512).

of mosquitoes is a fringe of scale-like hairs /» female,
on the margin of the wing and also, in all known American
forms, on each of the wing-veins.

But the most distinctive feature Antennae of

mosquitoes. male ;

II

Fig. 512. — Wing: of Culex.

The larvae of mosquitoes, so far as they are known, are
aquatic. But it is probable that some species breed in the
ground, for mosquitoes occur in arid regions far from water.

The transformations of those species with aquatic larvae
are easily observed. The immature forms may be found in

438

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

pools of stagnant water, in watering-troughs, and in ex¬
posed receptacles of rain-water.

The long, slender eggs are laid side by side in a boat¬
shaped mass, on the surface of the water (Fig. 513). They

Fig. 513.— A glass of water containing e^gs, larvae, and pupae of mosquitoes.

hatch in a few days, and the larvae escape from the lower
ends into the water. The larvae are well known, and are
commonly called “ wigglers,” a name suggested by their
wriggling motion as they swim through the water. The
larva (Fig. 514, a) has a large head and
thorax and a slender abdomen. The
next to the last abdominal segment
Vj| yf- bears a breathing-tube ; and when the
larva is at rest it hangs head down-
ward in the water, with the opening of
* this tube at the surface (Fig. 513). At
the end of this tube there is a rosette
<7, larva, i>, pupa. Qf plate-like lobes (Fig. 5j5> ab which,
floating on the surface of the water, keeps the larva in posi¬
tion when at rest. The larva grows rapidly, and after a few

DIPTERA.

439

5«— end of

molts changes into a club-shaped pupa, the head and thorax
being greatly enlarged (5 14, b). With this transformation a
remarkable change takes place in the re¬
spiratory system. There are now two
breathing-tubes, and these are borne by
the thorax. One of these tubes is repre¬
sented greatly enlarged by Figure 515,

At the tail-end of the body there is a pair

of leaf-like appendages, with which the breatfun*Sbe ofTarva-
. . r r 1 r . ** breathmg-tube of

insect swims; for the pupae of mosqui- pupa-
toes, and also of certain midges, differ from the pupae of
other insects in being active. The pupa state lasts only a
few days; then the skin splits down the back, and the
winged mosquito carefully works itself out and cautiously
balances itself on the cast skin, using it as a raft, until its
wings are hardened so that it can fly away.

In recent years it has been found that the transmission
of several diseases is due to mosquitoes, different kinds of
mosquitoes transmitting different diseases. Malaria is
caused by a protozoan organism, Hcemamceba , which de¬
stroys the red blood corpuscles of man. It has been dem¬
onstrated that when blood is taken by a mosquito of the
genus Anopheles from a person suffering with malaria
the Hcztnamceba passes through certain stages of its life
history within the body of the mosquito and finally reaches
the salivary glands of the mosquito, from which the ma¬
larial germs are injected into persons bitten by the infected
mosquito. And there is no reason to believe that man
becomes infected with malaria in any other way. People
have lived in extremely malarious regions and escaped
taking the disease by merely spending the evenings and
nights in mosquito-proof houses.

It often happens that plagues of these pests are bred in
receptacles of rain-water standing near dwellings ; such re¬
ceptacles should not be left open unnecessarily. When the
breeding-places are ponds of limited extent the <arvae and

440

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

pupae can be destroyed by pouring a small quantity of kero¬
sene on the water ; this method of destroying them was first
suggested by Mr. L. O. Howard.

Family CHIRONOMID^E (Chir-o-nom'i-dae).

The Midges.

The members of this family are more or less mosquito¬
like in form. The abdomen is usually
long and slender; the wings narrow; the
legs long and delicate ; and the antennae,
6 especially in the males, strongly plumose
(Fig. 516). In fact many of these insects
are commonly mistaken for mosquitoes;
but only a few of them can bite, the

Fig. 516. — Antennae of , . . . .

chironomus. /, female ; greater number being harmless.

The midges are most easily distin¬
guished from mosquitoes by the structure of the wings
(Fig. 517). These are furnished with fewer and usually less

Fig. 517. — Wing of Chironomus.

distinct veins; and the veins, although sometimes hairy, are
not fringed with scale-like hairs. There is a marked contrast
between the stouter veins near the costal border of the wing
and those on the other parts of the wing, which seem to be
fading out. The costal vein is not prolonged into an am¬
bient vein, beyond the apex of the wing.

The name midge has been used in an indefinite way,
some writers applying it to any minute fly. It is much
better, however, to restrict it to members of this family

DIPTERA.

441

except where it has become firmly established as a part of a
specific name. The Wheat-midge and the Clover-seed Midge
are examples of names of this kind; it would not be wise to
attempt to change these names, although the insects they
represent belong to the Gall-gnat family, and hence are not
true midges.

Midges often appear in large swarms, dancing in the air,
especially towards the close of day. Professor Williston
states that, over meadows in the Rocky Mountains, he has
seen them rise at nightfall in most incredible numbers, pro¬
ducing a buzzing or humming noise like that of a distant
waterfall, and audible for a considerable distance.

The larvae are either aquatic or terrestrial; they have
two pairs of spiracles, one at each end of the body, or are
furnished with tracheal gills. Some of the pupaB are free
and active, others are quiescent; some of the latter remain
partially enclosed in the split larval skin.

Many of our species belong to the genus Chironomus
(Chi-ron'o-mus). These are mosquito-like in form, but vary
greatly in size, some being smaller than our common mos¬
quitoes, and others much larger. The head is small, the
snout, comparatively short, and the antennae of the males
very bushy. The larvce so far as they are known are aquatic.
Many of them are blood-red in color; and as they live in
standing water they are sometimes found in vessels contain¬
ing rain-water, where they appear like bits of animated red
thread. The pupse of this genus, like those of mosquitoes,
are active.

To the genus Ceratopogon (Cer-a-to-po'gon) belong the
small midges commonly known as punkies. Of these there
are many species, which vary greatly in size and color.
The body and legs are not as slender as in the preceding
genus, and consequently the insects appear much less mos-
quito-like. Certain minute species are sometimes very
abundant, and extremely annoying on account of their bites.
We have found them exceeding troublesome in the Adiron-

442

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

dack Mountains. The larvae live under the bark of decaying
branches, under fallen leaves, and in sap flowing from
wounded trees.

Family Mycetophilid^E (My-cet-o-phil'i-das).

The Fungus-gnats .

These flies are of medium or small size, and more or less
mosquito-like in form. They are most
easily recognized by the great length
of the coxae (Fig. 518, c ), and the
fact that all the tibiae are furnished
with spurs. They also differ from
the closely-allied families in lacking,
as a rule, whorls of hairs on the an¬
tennae of the males (Fig. 519), and
in possessing ocelli.

At first sight considerable varia¬
tion seems to exist in the venation
of the wings as shown in the three wings represented in
Figure 520 ; but in reality the variations are comparatively
slight. Vein I extends along the margin of the wing to the
end of vein III4+6. Vein II varies in length. Vein III pre¬
serves three branches in the more generalized form (Fig.
520, #); in some genera veins III, and IIIa+3 coalesce from
the apex of the wing backward for a greater or less distance
so that the base of vein III3+3 appears like a cross vein (Fig.
520, b)\ this coalescence may be complete, in which case vein
III is only two-branched (Fig. 520, c). Vein V is also
two-branched. It should be observed that the cross-vein
III-V extends more or less obliquely or even lengthwise of
the wing; while the base of vein III4+6 may extend trans¬
versely, and then is liable to be mistaken for a cross-vein
(Fig. 520, b , c).

The flies are often found in great numbers on fungi and
in damp places where there is decaying vegetable matter.
They are active, and leap as well as fly.

Fig. 518. Fig. 519.

DIP TER A.

443

The larvae are gregarious, and live in fungi and in decay¬
ing vegetable matter. They may be found in the fungi
growing on logs and
trees, in the vegeta¬
ble mould among
dead leaves, under
bark, and sometimes
in cowr-dung. They
have eight pairs of
spiracles. One spe¬
cies, Sciara mall
(Sci'a-ra ma'li), feeds
on ripe apples, es¬
pecially those that
have been previously
perforated by the
Cod 1 in-moth.

In this family the

larva has a distinct

head. The pupa is

not enclosed in the

skin of the larva ;

but in SOme genera ^*IG* 52°- — Wings of fungus-gnats. (The drawings are
& _ after Winnertz ; the lettering is original.)

the transformations

are undergone in a delicate cocoon.

The larvae of some species of the genus Sciara often
attract attention on account of a strange habit they have of
sticking together in dense patches. Such assemblages of
larvae are frequently found under the bark of trees. But
what is more remarkable is the fact that when the larvae are
about to change to pupae an assemblage of this kind will
march over the surface of the ground, presenting the appear¬
ance of a serpent-like animal. Such a congregation is com¬
monly spoken of as a Sciara-army-worm. Examples have
been described that were four or five inches wide and ten or
twelve feet long, and in which the larvae were piled up from

444

THE STUDY OF INSECTS \

four to six deep. The larvae crawl over each other so that
the column advances about an inch a minute.

Family CECIDOMYIID^: (Cec-i-do-my-i'i-dae).

The Gall-gnats .

The gall-gnats are minute flies which are extremely
delicate in structure. The body and wings are clothed with

long hairs, which are easily rubbed off. The
antennae are long, sometimes very long, and
usually with a whorl of hairs on each seg¬
ment (Fig. 521); the legs are slender and
quite long, but the coxae are not greatly
elongate, and the tibiae are without spurs ;
the wing-veins (Fig. 522) are greatly reduced
in number; the anal veins being entirely

wanting, and vein V wanting or merely

represented by a slight, unbranched fold.

To this family belong the smallest of

Ftg. 521. — Antennas
of gall-gnats. w,
male ; f. female,

enlarged more than ..... J

that of the male. the midge-like flies. On account of their
minute size, the adult flies are not apt to attract the at¬
tention of the young student. But the larvae of many

Tom*

Fig. 522.— Wing of gall-gnat.

species cause the growth of galls on plants ; some of which
are sure to be found by any close observer. Other species
arrest the growth of the plants they infest, and thus cause

DIP TER A.

445

very serious injury; in this way the amount of a crop of
grain is often greatly reduced.

The larvae are small maggots, with nine pairs of spiracles.
Many species are brightly colored, being red, pink, yellow,
or orange. In almost every case a larva
belonging to this family can be recog¬
nized as such by the presence of a horny
piece on the lower side of the body, be¬
tween the second and third segments (Fig. Fig. 523. — Head-end of
523). This piece is called the breast-bone. br2st-bone!wlng the
Its homology and use have not been definitely determined.

The different species vary as to the method of under¬
going their transformation ; in some the pupa is naked ; in
others the pupa is enclosed in the dried skin of the larva ;
and in still others it is enclosed in a delicate cocoon.

One of the most common and conspicuous of the galls
made by gall-gnats is the Pine-cone Willow-gall (Fig. 524).

This often occurs in
great abundance on the
tips of twigs of the
Heart - leaved Willow
( Salix cordatd). The
gnat that causes the
growth of this gall is
Cecidomyia strobiloides
(Cec-i-do-my'i-a strob-i-
loi'des). The gall is a
deformed and enlarged
bud ; the lengthening of
the stem is checked by
the injury caused by
the larva ; but leaves
Fig. 524.— The Pine-cone wiiiow-gaii. continue to be devel¬

oped which results in the cone-shaped growth. The larva
remains in the heart of the gall throughout the summer and
winter, changing to a pupa early in the spring. The adult

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

446

emerges soon afterward, and lays its eggs in the newly-
started buds of the willow.

There is a guest gall-gnat, Cecidomyia albovittata (C. al-
bo-vit-ta'ta), which breeds in large numbers between the
leaves composing the Pine-cone Willow-gall. The larvae of
this gnat do not seem to interfere in any way with the
development of their host, there being abundant food in the
gall both for the owner of the gall and for its numerous
guests.

The Clover-leaf Midge, Cecidomyia trifolii(C. tri-fo'li-i). —
The leaflets of white clover are sometimes infested by white

or orange-colored mag¬
gots which fold the two
halves of the leaflet
together. From one to
twenty of these larvae
may be found in a single
leaflet. When f u 1 1-
grown the larvae make
cocoons, and undergo
eport for 1879.) their transformations

within the folded leaflet. In Figure 525 an infested leaf
containing cocoons is represented natural size, also a larva
and an adult gnat, greatly enlarged.

The Clover-seed Midge, Cecidomyia leguminicola (C. le-
gu-mi-nic'o-la), is a much more serious pest of clover. This
infests both red and white clover. The larvae live in the
heads of the clover and destroy the immature seed. When
full-grown they drop to the ground, where they undergo
their transformations. In some parts of this country it is
impossible to raise clover-seed on account of this pest.

The Hessian-fly, Cecidomyia destructor (C. de-struc'tor). —
This is perhaps the most serious pest infesting wheat in this
country. The larva lives at the base of a leaf between it
and the main stalk. There are two or three broods of this
insect in the course of the year. The larvae of the fall brood

Fig. 525 .— Cecidomyia trifolii. (From the Author’s
R»

DIP TER A.

447

infest the young wheat-plants near the surface of the ground.
When full-grown each changes to a pupa within a brown
puparium, which resembles a flax-seed. Here they remain
throughout the winter. In the spring the adult gnats
emerge and lay their eggs in the sheaths of leaves some dis¬
tance above the ground. The infested plants are so weak¬
ened by the larva that they produce but little if any seed.

The Wheat-midge, Diplosis tritici (Di-plo'sis trit'i-ci). —
This gnat is also a very serious enemy of wheat. It deposits
its eggs in the opening flowers of wheat. The larvae feed
on the pollen and the milky juice of the immature seeds,
causing them to shrivel up and become comparatively
worthless. When full-grown the larvse drop to the ground,
where the transformations are undergone near the surface.
The adults appear in May or June.

The Resin-gnat, Diplosis resinicola (D. res-i-nic'o-la). — -
This species infests the branches of various species of pine.

Fig. 526. -Diplosis resinicola . (From the Author’s Report for 1879.)

We have found it throughout the Atlantic region from New
York to Florida. The larvae live together in considerable
numbers within a lump of resin. They derive their nourish¬
ment from the abraded bark of the twig; and the resin
exuding from the wound completely surrounds and protects

448

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

them. The transformations are undergone within the lump
of resin. After the gnats emerge the empty pupa-skins pro¬
ject from the lump of resin as shown at the right in Figure
526. In this figure the gnat, a single wing, and a part of
the antenna of each sex are represented, all greatly enlarged.

Family RHYPHlDiE (Rhyph'i-dae).

The False Crane-flies .

The false crane-flies are so called because they resemble
the Tipulidae somewhat in the venation of the wings, the

three branches of vein V being preserved, and cell Va being
divided by a cross-vein (Fig. 527). They lack,
however, the V-shaped suture on the thorax
that is characteristic of crane-flies ; and differ,
also, in having ocelli, and in the structure of the
antennae (Fig. 528). The wings are wider than
is usual with crane-flies, and the branches of
Fig. 528. vein III separate nearer the base of the wing
than in that family.

The adults are mosquito-like insects with spotted wings,
which often enter houses, where they are found on windows.
We have also observed them in considerable numbers just
at nightfall, feeding on sugar which had been placed on

DIP TER A.

449

trees to attract moths. They feed on over-ripe fruit and
other vegetable substances.

The larvae are found in pools and in decaying vegetable
matter ; they have two pairs of spiracles, one at each end of
the body. The pupae are free.

Only four species of false crane-flies have been found in
the United States ; these belong to the genus Rhyphus
(Rhy'phus).

Family ORPHNEPHILID^E (Orph-ne-phil'i-dae).

The Solitary-midge.

Only a single species of this family, Orphnephila testacea
(Orph-neph'i-la tes-ta'ce-a), is known to occur it) North
America. This is a small fly measuring about one eighth
of an inch in length, with a wing-expanse of one third inch.

The antennae are short, about as long as the head, and
nearly of the same structure in both sexes ; the segments of
the antennae except those at the base are slender and are
clothed with a few short hairs. The ocelli are wanting. The
compound eyes are large and meet in front in both sexes.
The wing-veins are well developed on all parts of the wing ;
vein II ends in the margin of the wing before the end of
the basal third; vein III is two-branched, the first branch
ending in the margin at the end of the second third of the
wing and the other branch near the apex of the wing ; vein
V is two-branched, the branches separating at the end of the
basal third of the wing and near the cross-vein III-V ; the
fork of vein VII and the cross-vein V— VII are near the end
of the basal fourth of the wing.

The transformations of this insect are unknown.

Family BIBIONID.E (Bib-i-on'i-dae).

The March-flies .

In these flies the body is comparatively robust, and the
legs shorter and stouter than in most of the families with
30

450

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

thread-like antennae (Fig. 529). The abdomen, however,
is much longer than wide. The antennae (Fig. 530) are

shorter than the thorax, and
composed of short, broad,
and closely-pressed-together
segments. Although the an¬
tennae are hairy, they are not
furnished with whorls of long
hairs in the males, as is the case in most of the preceding
families. These insects resemble the fungus-gnats in having
ocelli; but they differ from them in the shortness of the
antennae and in the fact that the coxae are not greatly
elongate. In this family and the following one the eyes of
the males are in many cases contiguous. The venation of
the wings of the typical genus is represented by Figure 531.

Fig. 529. — Bibio.

Fig. 530.

III.

Fig. 531. — Wing of Bibio .

The adult flies are generally black and red, sometimes
yellow. They are most common in early spring; which has
suggested the name March-flies ; but some occur later in the
season.

The larvae vary in habits ; some species feed on decay¬
ing vegetable matter, while others attack the roots of grow¬
ing plants, especially of grass. They have ten pairs of
spiracles; which is an unusually large number, as but few
insects have more than nine pairs. The pupae are usually
free.

DIP TER A.

451

Family SlMULUD^E (Sim-u-li'i-dae).

The Black-flies .

The common name, black-flies, given to the members of
this family is not distinctive, for there are many species in
other families that are of this color ; but like many other
names that are descriptive in form, it has come to have a
specific meaning distinct from its original one. It is like
the word blackberry ; some blackberries are white, and not
all berries that are black are blackberries.

In this family the body is short and stout (Fig. 532) ; the
legs are short, and the tibiae are without spurs. The anten¬
nae, although composed of many seg¬
ments, are comparatively short, and
taper towards the tip (Fig. 533) ; the
segments of the antennae are short
and closely pressed together ; they
are clothed with fine hairs, but do not
bear whorls of long hairs. There are
no ocelli. In the males the compound
eyes are contiguous, and are composed of two kinds of
ocelli, those of one part of the eye being much larger than

Fig. 532.

Simulium.

Fig.

533-

the others. The wings are broad, iridescent, and not
clothed with hairs. The veins near the costal border are
stout ; those on the other parts of the wing are very weak
(Fig. 534)-

452

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

The females of many species suck blood and are well*
known pests. Unlike mosquitoes and midges, the black-flies
like heat and strong light. They are often seen in large
numbers disporting themselves in the brightest sunshine.

The larvae are aquatic; and usually live in swiftly-flowing
streams, clinging to the surface of rocks in rapids or on the
brinks of falls. They sometimes occur in such large num¬
bers as to form a moss-like coating over the rocks. There
is a disk-like sucker fringed with little hooks at the caudal
end of the body by means of which the larva clings to the
rocks; and just back of the head there is a fleshy proleg
which ends in a similar sucker fringed with hooks (Fig. 535).

By means of these two organs the larva is able
to walk with a looping gait similar to that of a
measuring-worm. It also has the power of
spinning silk from its mouth, which it uses in
locomotion. The hooks on the caudal sucker
and at the end of the proleg are well adapted
to clinging to a thread or to a film of silk
spun upon the rock to which the larva is
clinging. Respiration is accomplished by means of three
much-branched tracheal gills which are pushed out from be¬
tween the last two abdominal segments. The head bears
two large fan-shaped organs, which aid in procuring food.
The food consists of microscopic plants and bits of tissue of
larger plants.

When full-grown the larva spins a boot-shaped cocoon
within which the pupa state is passed
(Fig. 536). This cocoon is firmly fast¬
ened to the rock upon which the larva
has lived or to other cocoons, for they
occur in dense masses, forming a carpet¬
like covering on the rocks. The pupa,
like the larva, breathes by tracheal gills ;
but in this stage the tracheal gills are Fig. S36._Larva and co-
borne by the prothorax. coon'

Fig. 535 — Head
of larva.

DIP TER A.

453

The adult fly, on emerging from the pupa-skin, rises to
the surface of the water and takes flight at once. Soon
after this, the eggs are laid. We have often watched the
flies hovering over the brink of a fall where there was a thin
sheet of swiftly-flowing water, and have seen them dart into
the water and out again. At such times we have always
found the surface of the rock more or less thickly coated
with eggs, and have no doubt that an egg is fastened to the
rock each time a fly darts into the water.

The above account is based on observations made on the
Innoxious Black-fly, Simulium innoxiutn (Si-mu'li-um in-
nox'i-um), which is exceedingly common in the streams
about Ithaca, N. Y. This species, fortunately, is not blood¬
thirsty, for, notwithstanding its great abundance in this
locality, we have never known it to bite.

The Southern Buffalo-gnat, Simulium pecuarum (S. pec-
u-a'rum), of the Mississippi Valley is a terrible pest, which
causes the death of many mules and other domestic animals.
The popular name of this insect refers to a fancied resem¬
blance in the shape of the insect when viewed from one side
to that of a buffalo.

The Turkey-gnat, Simulium meridionale (S. me-rid-i-o-
na'le), closely resembles the preceding in habits, infesting
all kinds of domestic animals ; but as it appears at the time
that turkeys are setting and causes great injury to this fowl,
it is commonly known as the Turkey-gnat.

The Adirondack Black-fly, Simulium molestum (S. mo-
les'tum), is a scourge in the mountains of the Northeastern
States.

Family Tabanid^E (Ta-ban'i-dae).

The Horse-flies .

The horse-flies are well-known pests of stock, and are
often extremely annoying to man. They appear in sum¬
mer, are common in woods, and are most abundant in the
hottest weather.

454

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

In this family the third segment of the antenna is ringed
(Figs. 537, 538) and is never furnished with a distinct style

or bristle. The wing-veins (Fig. 539)
are evenly distributed over the wing,
as the branches of vein III are not
crowded together as in the follow¬
ing family ; the costal vein extends
completely around the wing; the
alulets are large.

The flight of these flies is very
powerful ; they are able to outstrip
the swiftest horse. The males feed
on the nectar of flowers and on

Fig. 538.

Antenna of sweet sap. The mouth-parts of the

C hr y sofis. 1 _ r

female are fitted for piercing the
skin and sucking the blood of men and quadrupeds; the

Fig. 537
Antenna of
Tabanus.

n nii

females, however, also feed on the sweets of plants when
they cannot obtain blood.

The larvae are carnivorous ; many live in the earth ; others
live in water. They feed on various small animals ; some
upon snails, others upon the larvae of insects. In most cases
they have a single pair of spiracles, which is situated at the
hind end of the body; some have a pair of spiracles at
each end of the body. The pupa is not enclosed in the
skin of the larva.

DIP TER A.

455

Fig. 540. — Tabanus at-
ratus.

The larger species, as well as some of moderate size,
belong to the genus Tabanus (Ta-ba'nus), of which nearly
one hundred American spe¬
cies are known. One of the
most common of these is the
Mourning Horse-fly, Tabanus
atratus (T. a-tra'tus). This
insect is of an uniform black
color throughout, except that
the body may have a bluish
tinge (Fig. 540).

To the genus Chrysops
(Chry 'sops) belong the smaller
and more common horse-flies with banded wings (Fig. 541)*
Nearly fifty North American species of this genus have
been described.

Family STRATIOMYII DM (Strat-i-o-my-i'i-doe).

The Soldier-flies .

The soldier-flies are so called on account of the bright-
colored stripes with which some of the species are marked.

In the more typical mem¬
bers of this family the abdo¬
men is broad and greatly
flattened (Fig. 542), and the
wings when at rest lie parallel
upon each other over the ab¬
domen. But in some genera
the abdomen is narrow and
considerably elongate.

The antennae vary greatly
in form ; in some genera the third segment is long and con¬
sists of several quite distinct rings (IHig- 543) > in others it is
short with but few indistinctly-separated rings and with a
bristle (Fig. 544), as in the true true short-horned flies.

The most distinctive characteristic is the peculiar vena

Fig 543.

Fig. 544.

456

THE STUD y OF INSECTS.

tion of the wings (Fig. 545). The branches of vein III are
crowded together near the costal border of the wing ; and

the first cell Va is unusually short and broad ; the branches
of Vein V and vein VII, are comparatively weak.

These flies are found on flowers and leaves, especially in
the vicinity of water and in bogs and marshes. The larvae

live in water, earth or decaying wood.
Some are carnivorous, others feed on
tomyia. decaying vegetable matter. I hey

have six or seven pairs of spiracles; the pupa state is passed
within the skin of the larva (Fig. 546).

Family LEPTlDiE (Lep'ti-dae).

The Snipe-flies.

These trim-appearing flies have rather long legs, a cone-
shaped abdomen tapering towards the hind end (Fig. 547),
and sometimes a downward-projecting proboscis, which
with the form of the body and legs has sug¬
gested the name snipe-flies. Some members of
the family, however, are remarkable for their re¬
semblance to certain Ichneumon-flies, the abdo¬
men being long and somewhat compressed.

The body is naked or hairy, but it is not
clothed with strong bristles. Frequently the
hairy covering, though short, is very dense and is
of strongly-contrasting colors. Three ocelli are thoracic*.
present. The antennas vary greatly in form ; in some

DIP TER A.

45 7

genera the third segment consists of several subseg¬
ments, which maybe quite distinct (Fig. 548); in others the
antennae are only three-jointed, and the third segment bears
a style or bristle (Fig. 549). The proboscis is usually short,
only a few members of the family having it long like the
bill of a snipe. The wings are broad, and when at rest are
held half open. The empodia are pulvilliform ; that is,

Fig. 550.

there are three, nearly equal, membranous pads beneath the
tarsal claws (Fig. 550).

Although the form of the antennae in certain genera
closely resembles that characteristic of the long-horned flies
(Nematocera), the form of the palpus even in these cases
(Fig. 548, p) is that characteristic of the short-horned flies
(Brachycera), being only two-jointed and not pendulous.

The venation of the wings is comparatively generalized
(Figs. 55 t, 552), each of the principal veins usually extend¬
ing distinct from the others; but in some veins VI I9 and IX
coalesce at the margin of the wing (Fig. 5S2)- Vein III is
four-branched ; the branches of vein V are connected with
adjacent veins only by cross-veins; and cell Va is divided by
a cross-vein.

The flies are predaceous. They may be found about
low bushes and on tall grass. They are somewhat sluggish,
and, therefore, easily caught.

The larvae also are predaceous. Some live in earth,

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

45*

decaying wood, or dry sand ; others live in moss or in water.
They have either two pairs of spiracles, one at each end of

Fig. 551.— Wing of Leptis.

the body, or are furnished with tracheal gills. The last
segment of the body has a transverse cleft, both above and

m.

vin+ix

Fig. 552.— Wing of Xylophagus.

below, which is furnished above with two processes. The
pupae are free.

The family is of moderate size; about seventy North
American species have been described.

Family ACROCERID^E (Ac-ro-cer'i-dae).

The Small-headed Flies .

These flies are easily recognized by the unusually small
head, the large humpbacked thorax, the in¬
flated abdomen, and the very large alulets
(Fig- 553)-

_ The head is composed almost entirely of

Fig. 553. — Ptcro- % r '

dontia vi i seiia. eyes, and in some genera is minute. Ihe

DIP TER A.

459

eyes are contiguous in both sexes. The antennae are two-
or three-jointed, and are furnished with a style or bristle in
some genera, in others not. The venation of the wings
varies greatly in the different genera. We are unable, there¬
fore, to point out distinctive features drawn from these
organs. The figure given (Fig. 554) represents a single
genus rather than the family.

The flies are generally slow and feeble in their move¬
ments. In some species that feed upon flowers the pro¬
boscis is very long, sometimes exceeding the body in length.
Other species take no nourishment in the adult state, and
have no proboscis. The empodia are pulvilliform.

“ The larvae are apparently chiefly parasitic, and in the
few species in which they have been observed are parasitic
on spiders or their cocoons, in the former cases the young
larvae living within the abdomen.” (Williston.)

Family Nemistrinid^: (Nem-is-trin'i-dae).

The Tangle-veined Fites.

The members of this family are of medium size ; some
of them resemble horse-flies, and others bee-flies. They
can be recognized by the peculiar venation of the wings,
there being an unusual amount of anastomosing of the
veins (Fig. 555), which gives the wings a very characteristic
appearance.

460

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

The antennae are small and short ; the third segment is
simple and furnished with a slender, jointed, terminal style.
The proboscis is usually long, sometimes very long, and

fitted for sucking nectar from flowers. Only four North
American species have been described ; and these are all
rare.

Family Asilid^E (A-sil'i-dae).

The Robber-flies .

These are mostly large flies, and some of them are very
large. The body is usually elongate, with a very long,
slender abdomen (Fig. 556); but some species are quite
stout, resembling bumblebees in form. This resemblance is
often increased by a dense clothing of black and yellow
hairs.

In this and the following family the vertex of the head

Fig. 556. — Erax apical is destroying Fig. 557. — Head of Fig. 558.

a cotton-worm. (From the Au- robber-fly.

thor’s Report for 1879.)

is hollowed out between the eyes (Fig. 557). In this family
the proboscis is pointed and does not bear fleshy lips at the

DIP TER A.

461

tip. The antennae project forward in a prominent manner.
They are three-jointed, and with or without a terminal style.
The style when present sometimes appears like one or two
additional segments (Fig. 558).

Vein II I4 (Fig. 559) does not curve forward toward the
costal margin of the wing as in the following family. Cell
V3 is present, but is usually closed by the coalescence of the

tips of veins V3 and VII,. The tips of veins VII2 and IX
may or may not coalesce for a short distance. 1 he robber-
flies are extremely predaceous. They not only destroy
other flies, but powerful insects, as bumblebees, tiger-beetles,
and dragon-flies, fall prey to them ; they will also feed upon
larvae. They are common in open fields and are as apt to
alight on the ground as on elevated objects.

The larvae live chiefly in the ground or in decaying wood,
where they prey upon the larvae of beetles ; some, however,
are supposed to feed upon the roots of plants. The pupae
are free.

The family includes a large number of genera and
species.

Family MIDAID.E (Mi-da'i-dae).

The Midas- flies.

The Midas-flies rival the robber-flies in size, and quite
closely resemble them in appearance. As in that family,
the vertex of the head is hollowed out between the

462 the study of insects.

eyes ; but these flies can be distinguished by the form
of the proboscis, which bears a pair of fleshy lobes
at the tip, by the form of the antennae, which are
long and clubbed at the tip (Fig. 560), and by the
peculiar venation of the wings (Fig. 561), vein V, ter¬
minating at or before the apex of the wing, and the
branches of vein III coalescing near the apex of the
wing in an unusual way.

Fig. 560. The adult flies are predaceous. The family is a
small one ; but a large proportion of the species occur on
this continent.

1st

Fig. 561.— ‘ Winjr of Midas .

Family ApiOCERIDiE (A-pi-o-cer'i-dse).

The Apiocerids (A-pi-od e -rid s).

This family includes only a small number of species,

which are rare and occur in the far West. They are rather
large and elongate, and are found upon flowers.

DIF TER A .

463

The head is not hollowed out between the eyes ; the
ocelli are present ; the antennae are furnished with a short,
simple style. Vein III is usually four-branched, but some¬
times it is only three-branched ; all of the branches of vein
III end before the apex of the wing (Fig. 562); cell V3 is
present, but closed by the coalescence of veins V3 and VI I,
at the margin of the wing ; and cell V3 is divided by a cross¬
vein. The empodia are wanting.

Family BOMBYLIID^E (Bom-by-li'i-dae).

The Bee-flies.

These flies are mostly of medium size, some are small,
others are rather large. In some the
body is short and broad and densely
clothed with long, delicate hair (Fig. 563).

Other species resemble the horse-flies
somewhat in appearance, especially in the
dark color or markings of the wings ; but F,G* s*-**»*«w.
these can be distinguished from the horse-flies by the form
of the antennae and the venation of the wings.

The antennae are usually short ; they are three-jointed ;
the third segment is not ringed ; the style is sometimes
present and sometimes wanting. The ocelli are present.
The proboscis is sometimes very long and slender, and
sometimes short and furnished with fleshy lips at the ex¬
tremity.

Vein III of the wings (Fig. 564) is four-branched ; cell
III3 is sometimes divided by a cross-vein ; cell V3 is obliter¬
ated by the coalescence of veins V3 and VII, ; in a few
genera cell V, is also obliterated by the coalescence of veins
V, and Va; cell VIII is narrowly open, or is closed at or
near the border of the wing. The alulets are small or of
moderate size.

The adult flies feed on nectar, and are found hovering
over blossoms, or resting on sunny paths, sticks or stones;
they rarely alight on leaves.

464

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The larvae are parasitic, infesting hymenopterous and
lepidopterous larvae and pupae and the egg-sacs of Orthop-
tera. The pupae are free.

Fig. 564. — Wing of Pantarbes capito.

The family is a large one, including many genera and
species.

Family THEREVID/E (The-rev'i-dae).

The Stiletto-flies.

With the flies of this family the head is transverse, being
nearly as wide as the thorax ; and the abdomen is long and
tapering, suggesting the name stiletto-flies. These flies are
small or of medium size; they are hairy or bristly. The
antennae are three-jointed ; the third segment is simple, and
usually bears a terminal style; but this is sometimes want¬
ing. Three ocelli are present. The legs are slender and
bristly; the empodia are wanting.

Vein III of the wings (Fig. 565) is four-branched, and
the last branch (vein II I6) terminates beyond the apex of
the wing; the branches of vein V are all separate ; cell VIII
is closed near the border of the wing; the 2d cell III and
cell V are long.

The adult flies are predaceous; and conceal themselves
among the leaves of low bushes or settle on the ground in
sandy spots, waiting for other insects upon which they
prey.

The larvae are long and slender, and the body is appar¬
ently composed of nineteen segments. They are found in

DIPTERA .

465

earth, fungi, and decaying wood. They feed on decaying
animal and vegetable matter and are said to be predaceous
also. The pupae are free.

Fig. 565. — Wing of Thereva.

The family is a comparatively small one, including but
few genera and species.

Family SCFNOPINID^: (Scen-o-pin'i-dae).

The Window-flies .

The window-flies are so-called because the best-known
species are found almost exclusively on windows ; but the
conclusion that these are the most common flies found on
windows should not be drawn from this name ; for such is
not the case.

These flies are of medium size, our most common species
measuring one-fourth inch in length. They are usually
black, and are not clothed with bristles.

The thorax is prominent, and the abdomen
is flattened and somewhat bent down, so
that the body when viewed from the side
presents a humpbacked appearance (Fig. F,o ^

566). When at rest, the wings lie parallel, Scenopinus.
one over the other, on the abdomen ; when in this position
they are very inconspicuous. There are three ocelli. The
antennae are three-jointed ; the first and second segments
are short, the third is long and bears neither a style nor a
bristle (Fig. 567).

31

466

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

The venation of the wings is represented by Figure 568.
Vein III is four-branched ; cells V, and V, are both obliter¬
ated by the coalescence of the veins that bound them ; cell
VIII is closed at a considerable distance before the margin;
and the 2d cell III is much longer than cell V.

The larvae, which are sometimes found in dwellings

under carpets or- in furniture, are very slender, and are re¬
markable for the apparently large number of the segments
of the body, each of the abdominal segments except the last
being divided by a strong constriction. They are also found
in decaying wood, and are supposed to be carnivorous.

The family is a very small one. The most common
species is Scenopinus fenestralis (Sce-nop'i nus fen-es-tra'lis).

Family EMPIDID^E (Em-pid'i-dce).

The Dance-flies.

The dance-flies are of medium or small size ; they are
often seen in swarms under trees or near shrubs and about
brooks, dancing and hunting. The family is a rather diffi¬
cult one to characterize owing to great variations in the
form of the antennae and in the venation of the wings.

The branches of vein VII coalesce with the adjacent
veins (VII, with V8 and VI I2 with IX) from the margin ot
the wing towards the base for a considerable distance (Fig-
569). In most of the genera this coalescence is carried so
far that the free parts of the branches of vein VII appear

DIP TER A.

467

like cross-veins. The only other families of the suborder
Orthorrhapha in which this occurs are the two following;
and the venation of the wings in each of these is very differ¬
ent from that of the Empididae.

The antennae are three-jointed ; the first and second

segments are often very small, and then appear like a single
segment ; the third segment may or may not bear a style or
bristle. The mouth-parts are in many cases long, and ex¬
tend at right angles to the body or are bent back upon the
breast.

These flies are predaceous, like the robber-flies ; but they
also frequent flowers. The larvae live in decaying vegetable
matter, but are probably carnivorous. The pupae are free.
The family is a large one, containing many genera and
species.

Family Dolichopodid^ (Dol-i-cho-pod'i-dae).

The Long-legged Flies .

These flies are of small or medium size and usually
bright metallic green in color. The legs are
much longer than is usual in the families
belonging to the series of short-horned flies
(Fig. 570). This suggested the name Do - / I

lichopus (Do-lich'o-pus), which means long- '
footed, for the typical genus ; and from this Fig t70.-Dolicho.
the family name is derived. It should be fus lobatus.

468

THE STUD V OF INSECTS.

remembered, however, that these flics are long-legged in
comparison with the allied families, and not in comparison
with crane-flies and midges.

The members of this family are easily distinguished as
such by the peculiar venation of the wings, the most char¬
acteristic features of which are the following (Fig. 571):
cells V and 1st Va are not separated by a vein, the basal
part of vein V3 being undeveloped; veins III3+3 and III4+6
separate near the base of the wing, and the two veins form

hi.

Fig. 571. — Wingf of Psilophm ciltatus.

at the point of separation a more or less knot-shaped swell-
ing; the cross-vein III— V is at or close by this swelling, so
that cell III is very short. A somewhat similar venation
occurs in some of the Muscidas ; but there the knot-shaped
swelling on vein III is often wanting, and the cross-vein
III-V is usually more remote from the base of the wing;
and too the flies belonging to the Muscidas possess the
suture above the antennae characteristic of the suborder Cy-
clorrhapha.

The members of this family have three ocelli ; the an¬
tennae are three-jointed ; the second segment of the antenna
is sometimes rudimentary ; and the third segment bears a
two-jointed arista.

The adults are predaceous and hunt for smaller flies and

DIPTERA .

469

other soft-bodied insects. They are usually found in damp
places, covered with rank vegetation. Some species occur
chiefly on the leaves of aquatic plants, and about dams and
waterfalls ; and some are able to run over the surface of
water. Others occur in dry places.

The larvae live in earth or decomposing vegetable matter.
They are long, slender, and cylindrical, and have two pairs
of spiracles, one at each end of the body. In most cases the
pupae are free ; but some form cocoons. The thorax of the
pupa bears a pair of long breathing-tubes.

The family is a large one ; more than two hundred North
American species have been described already.

Family LONCHOPTERID^E (Lon-chop-ter'i-dae).

The Spear-winged Flies .

These are minute flies, which measure from one twelfth
to one sixth of an inch in length, and are usually brownish
or yellowish. When at rest the wings are folded flat, one
oVer the other, on the abdomen. The apex of the wing is
pointed ; and the wing as a whole is shaped somewhat like
the head of a spear. This suggested the family name.

The venation of the wings is very characteristic, and is
sufficient to distinguish these flies from all others. The

cross-veins III-V and V-VII are oblique, and near the
base of the wing (Fig. 572). Vein VI Ia is very short, and
extends towards the base of the wing. In the females vein

470

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

VII, coalesces with vein Vs , as shown in the figure; but
in the males the tip of vein VII, is free. The posterior
lobe is wanting.

Three ocelli are present. The antennae are three-jointed ;
the third segment is globular, and bears a three-jointed
style.

These flies are common from spring till autumn, in damp
grassy places. They frequent the shores of shady brooks,
where the atmosphere is moist. But little is known as yet
about their habits and tranformations.

In the shape of the wings, the absence of cross-veins,
except at the base of the wing, and the great reduction of
the anal area of the wing the flies closely resemble the Psy-
chodidae.

Suborder CYCLORRHAPHA (Cy-clor'rha-pha).

The Circular -seamed Flies .

To this suborder belong those families of flies in which
the pupa escapes from the larval skin through a
round opening made by pushing off the head-
end of it (Fig. 573)* The pupa is always enclosed
in a puparium. The adult flies possess a frontal
lunule (see footnote page 461), and except in the
Puparmm~of ^rst f°ur faiTnlics a frontal suture, through which
a Muscid. tjie ptilinum is pushed out, when the adult is
about to emerge from the puparium (see page 419).

Family SYRPMIDA£ (Syr'phi-dae).

The Syrphus-Jlies.

The family Syrphidae includes many of our common
flies; but the different species vary so much in form that
no general description of their appearance can be given.
Many of them mimic hymenopterous insects ; thus some
species resemble bumblebees, others the honey-bee, and
still others wasps; while some present but little resemblance
to any of these.

DIP TER A.

471

The most distinctive characteristic of the family is the
presence of a thickening of the membrane of the wing, which
appears like a longitudinal vein between veins III and V.
This is termed the spurious vein , and is lacking in only a few
members of the family ; it is represented in Figure 574 by a

band of stippling. Cell IIIB is closed ; and the 2d cell III
and cell V are large.

The antennas are three-jointed ; the third segment usually
bears a dorsal bristle, but sometimes it is furnished with a
thickened style. The face is not furnished with longitudinal
furrows to receive the antennae as in the Muscidae. The
frontal lunule is present, but the frontal suture is wanting.

The adults frequent flowers and feed upon honey and
pollen. Some fly with a loud humming sound like that of
a bee ; others hover motionless except as to their wings for
a time, and then dart away suddenly for a short distance,
and then resume their hovering.

The larvae vary greatly in form and habits. Some prey
upon plant-lice, and are often found in the midst of colonies
of these insects ; others feed on decaying vegetable matter,
and live in rotten wood, in mud, and in water. Some are
found in the nests of ants ; and some in the nests of bum¬
blebees and of wasps.

Among the common representatives of this family there
is one that so closely resembles a male honey-bee as to be

472

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Fig. 575. — Microdon , adult and
larva.

often mistaken for it. This is the Drone-fly. Eristalis tenax
(E-ris'ta-lis te'nax). It is common about flowers. The
larva lives in foul water, where it feeds on decaying vegeta¬
ble matter; it is of the form known as “ rat-tailed,” which is
described below.

The larvae of the genus Volucella (Vol-u-cel'la) are pre¬
daceous, living in the nests of bumblebees and of wasps
( Vespa ), and feeding upon their larvae. Some of the species

in the adult state very closely re¬
semble bumblebees.

The larvae of the genus Micro-
do «(Mic' ro-don) are hemispherical,
slug -like creatures (Fig. 575),
which resemble mollusks more than ordinary maggots ; they
are common in ants' nests.

The larvae of several species that live in water as well as
some that live in rotten wood are known as rat-tailed mag¬
gots on account of a long, tail-like appendage, with which
the hind end of the body is furnished. This is a tube, like
that of a diver, which enables the insect to obtain air when
its body is submerged beneath several inches of water or de-
caying matter. This tube being telescopic can be lengthened
or shortened as the insect may need it ; and at its tip there
is a rosette of hairs, which, floating on the surface of the
water, keeps the tip from being submerged. The larva has
on the ventral side of its body several pairs of tubercles
armed with spines, which serve as prolegs.

Among the more common members of this family are
the yellow-banded species belonging to the
genus Syrphus (Syr'phus) (Fig. 576). The larvae
of these live in colonies of Aphids, and do much
good by destroying these pests.

This family is a very large one ; nearly or
quite two thousand species being known. In
his monograph of the species of America north of Mexico,

Fig. 576.- Syr-
pkus.

DIP TER A. 473

Professor Williston describes about three hundred species
irom this region.*

Family PlPUNCULlD^E (Pip-un-cu'li-dae).

The Big-eyed Flies .

This family is represented in the United States by a
single genus, Pipunculus (Pi-pun'cu-lus). These are small flies,
with very large heads composed almost en¬
tirely of eyes (Fig. 577). The head is nearly
spherical, and broader than the thorax. The
abdomen is somewhat elongate with the sides
nearly parallel. The body is thinly clothed
with hair or nearly naked. The wings are fig. 577. -Pij>un-
much longer than the abdomen, and when at
rest they lie parallel to each other upon it. The venation
(Fig. 578) closely resembles that of some of the Conopidae.
Vein III is three-branched. The last branch of Vein III and

the first branch of vein V approach each other at their tips.
Vein V3 coalesces with vein VII, for nearly its entire length.
Veins VI Ia and IX coalesce at their tips. Cells III and V
are long.

The flies hover in shady places. They are sometimes
found on flowers, and may be swept from low plants ; our
most common species measure about one eighth of an inch
in length, not including the wings. The larvae so far as
known are parasitic upon bugs.

* Bulletin of the U. S. National Museum, No. 31.

474

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Family PLATYPEZID^E (Plat-y-pez'i-dae).

The Flat-footed Flies .

These flies resemble the House-fly somewhat in appear¬
ance but are very much smaller. They hover in the air in
shady places, and alight frequently on the leaves of low
plants, where they run about in circles with great rapidity.

The head is hemispherical or spherical, and as broad as or
broader than the thorax. The antennae are three-jointed,
with a terminal bristle. The legs are
short and stout, and the tarsi of the hinder
pair are often very broad and flat (Fig.
579). The wings are rather large, and
when at rest lie parallel upon the abdo¬
men ; the axillary excision is prominent,
but the posterior lobe of the wing is
small (Fig. 580) ; the alulets are minute.

Vein III of the wings is three-
branched ; veins V, and V, either coalesce
Fig. 579.— Leg of Pi*ty- throughout or separate near the margin
feggreat iy ek u larged* °f of the wing. Cell Va is sometimes divided

Fro. 580 — Wing of Platypeza.

by a cross-vein, and sometimes not. Cells 2d III, V, and
VIII are short.

This family includes but few species, and these are
usually rare. The larvae live in rotten mushrooms.

DIP TER A.

475

Family PHORiDiE (Phor'i-dae).
The Humpbacked Flies.

These are minute, dark-colored, usually black flies, which
can easily be recognized by their humpbacked form and
the peculiar venation of the wings. Certain species are
often found running about rapidly on windows, others on
fallen leaves. Sometimes they are seen in swarms dancing
up and down in the air.

The head is small ; the thorax large and humped ; and
the abdomen rather short. The antennae are apparently

ix

Fig. 581. — Wing of Phora.

one- or two-jointed, the last segment with either a dorsal or
a terminal bristle. The coxae are long; the femora, espe¬
cially of the hind legs, which are rather long, are widened
and flattened. The wings (Fig. 581) are large, and are fur¬
nished with two strong veins near the costal border, which
extend but a short distance beyond the middle of the wing.
From these strong veins from three to five weak ones extend
across the wing.

The larvae feed on decaying vegetable matter, dead
insects, snails, etc., and some are believed to be parasitic
upon other insects.

476

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Family CONOPID/E (Co-nop'i-dae).

The Thick-head Flies .

With the members of this family the head is large, being
broader than the thorax. The body is more or less elon¬
gate; sometimes the abdomen has a long, slender pedicel
like that of certain wasps. The body may be naked or
thinly clothed with fine hair, but it is rarely bristly.

The ocelli may be either present or absent. The an¬
tennae are prominent, and project forward; they are three-
jointed ; and the third segment bears either a dorsal bristle

Fig. 582.— Wing- of Conors ajffinis.

or a terminal.style. Vein III of the wings (Fig. 582) is only
three-branched. The last branch of vein III and the first
branch of vein V end near together or coalesce at their tips.
Cell V, is divided by a cross-vein. Vein V, coalesces with
vein VII, for nearly its entire length. Veins VII, and IX
coalesce at their tips, and sometimes for
\ / nearly the entire length of vein VII,.

1 ..-n The ^es are f°unc* on flowers.

In some genera the abdomen is long, with
/[ A a slender, wasp-like pedicel (Fig. 583). In
/ ® ' others the abdomen is of the more usual
fig. 58 3.-conojs. form The larvae are parasitic, chiefly upon
bumblebees and wasps, but some species infest locusts.

DIPTERA.

4 77

Family CE STRIDE (CEs'tri-dae).

The Bot-flies .

This family includes flies that are large or of medium
size ; most of the species resemble bees in appearance ;
some, the honey-bee; others, bumblebees. In the vena¬
tion of the wings they closely resemble the Muscidae; but
the wings are usually furnished with fine transverse wrinkles.
They are most easily distinguished from the Muscidae by
the small size of the opening of the mouth and the rudi¬
mentary condition of the mouth-parts, the proboscis being
rudimentary and the palpi usually wanting.

The head is large, with the face broad. The antennae
are small, three-jointed, more or less concealed in a suban-
tennal cavity or grooves ; the last segment bears a dorsal
bristle. Vein III of the wings is three-branched. Cell III6
is broadly open (Fig. 584), or is narrowed at the margin of

Fig. 584. — Wing of Gastrophilus.

the wing, or closed. The alulets are usually large, conceal¬
ing the halteres ; but sometimes they are small.

The larvae are parasitic upon mammals. The best known
species are the following :

The Horse Bot-fly, Gastrophilus equi (Gas-troph'i-lus
e'qui). — The adult fly closely resembles the honey-bee in

478

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

form except that the female (Fig. 585) has the end of the
abdomen elongate and bent forward under the body. It is
most often seen flying about horses, which
have an instinctive fear of it. The eggs are
attached to the hair, chiefly on the legs and
shoulders of the horse. The larvae are licked
off by the horse and swallowed with its food.

Fig* 585- When the larvae reach the stomach they fasten
themselves to the inner coat of it, and remain there until
full-grown. Then they pass from the animal with the dung,
and crawl into some protected place, where they transform
within a puparium.

The Oxwarble, Hypoderma lineata (Hyp-o-der'ma lin-
e-a'ta). — The larva of this species is the common pest that
lives in the backs of cattle just beneath the skin. The adult
lays its eggs on the backs of cattle ; and it has been supposed
that the young larvae penetrate the skin, thus reaching the
place where they are commonly found. But Dr. Cooper
Curtice has recently shown that the larvae are licked off
from the back by the cattle and swallowed. He found the
larvae in large numbers in the walls of the oesophagus in
November; later, about Christmas-time, they appeared sud¬
denly, and in large numbers under the skin of the back.
The course of their migration from the oesophagus to the
skin has not yet been traced. The greater part of the
growth of the larva is made within the tumor beneath the
skin. When full-grown it passes out through a hole in the
skin and undergoes its transformations on the ground. Dr.
Curtice has also shown that the most common oxwarble of
this country is Hypoderma lineata and not Hypoderma bovis ,
as has been supposed.

The Sheep Bot fly, CEstrus ovis (CEs'trus o'vis). — The
eggs of this species are laid in the nostrils of sheep. The
larvae pass up into the frontal sinuses and into the horns
when they are present. Here they feed upon the mucus.
They are very injurious to sheep, causing vertigo or the

DIP TER A.

479

disease known as “ staggers.” When full-grown they pass
out through the nostrils and undergo their transformations
beneath the surface of the ground.

Other species infest rabbits, squirrels, deer, and reindeer.
One that lives beneath the skin of the neck of rabbits is very
common in the South.

Family MUSCID^: (Mus'ci-dae).

The Muscids (. Mils' cids ).

The form of the more typical members of this family ii>
well shown by the common House-fly. But the family is a
very large one and includes species that differ greatly in
form. These differences are so great and so varied that
some writers divide the family into nearly thirty families.
It seems to us, however, to be better to consider these
divisions of subfamily value. The following characters are
presented by the family as a whole.

The antennae (Fig. 586) are three-jointed ; the third seg¬
ment bears a dorsal bristle. The frontal suture is present
(Fig. 587). The proboscis is
always present. Vein II of
the wings may be present or
absent; vein III is three-
branched ; cells V, and V3 are
wanting ; the branches of vein
VII coalesce with the adjacent
veins (VII, with V3, and VIIa
with IX) for nearly their
entire length. The pulvilli
are present, and the empodia
are never pulvilliform.

As this family includes more than one third of all the
known Diptera, it usually happens that a large proportion
of the flies in a collection belong to it. It seems necessary,
therefore, to indicate some of the principal divisions of the

Fig. 586.

Fig. 587

480

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

family. The first of these is into two groups of subfamilies,
and is based upon the size of the alulets. The division is
not a satisfactory one ; and it is only given here because it
is commonly employed by writers on the Diptera, and a
more definite one has not yet been discovered.

A. The alulets large ; face with a depression or vertical grooves
beneath the antennae; cell Ills closed or narrowly open, except in
the Anthomyiinae, where it is widely open. p. 480.

CALYPTRATE MUSCIDiE.
A A. The alulets small or wanting; form of face varied; cell III*
usually widely open. p. 484 . Acalyptrate MusciDiE.

I. CALYPTRATE MUSCID^E (Ca-lyp'trate).

To this division belong our most familiar representatives
oi the family, of which the House-fly and the flesh-flies are
good illustrations. As a rule cell IIIB of the wings is closed
or narrowly open (Fig. 588); but in the last subfamily this

cell is widely open (Fig. 589). Five subfamilies are classed
here ; these can be separated by the following table, which
is based on one given by Professor Williston.

A. Cell Ilia of the wings closed or more or less narrowed at the
margin of the wing (Fig. 588).

B. Antennal bristle wholly bare. p. 481 . TACHININ.E.

BB. Antennal bristle distinctly pubescent or plumose.

DIP TER A. 481

C. Antennal bristle bare near the tip. p. 482. . Sarcophagi
CC. Antennal bristle plumose or pubescent to the tip.

D. Dorsum of abdomen bristly ; legs usually elongate, p. 482.

DeXIINjE.

DD. Abdomen not bristly, except sometimes somewhat so

near the tip. p. 482 . MusciNjE.

AA. Cell Ills widely open, not narrowed at the margin of the wing
(Fig. 589). p.483 . ANTHOMYIJNiE.

Subfamily TACHlNlNiE (Tach-i-ni'nae).

The Tachina- flies ( Ta-chi'na ).

The Tachina-flies are often found about flowers and rank
vegetation. They are usually short, stout, and bristly,
and can be distinguished from
the three following subfamilies by
the bristle of the antennae being
wholly bare.

The larvae are parasitic, chiefly
within caterpillars, and play an ex¬
ceedingly important part in check¬
ing the increase of noxious insects.

The female fastens her eggs to the FLarvTa7ui^'Pium, and^gs
of a caterpillar (Fhr. too):

1879.)

skin of a caterpillar (Fig. 590);
when the larvae hatch they bore
their way into their host and live
grown.

there till they are full-

32

482

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Subfamily SARCOPHAGUS (Sar-coph-a-gi'nae).

The Flesh-flies .

These flies resemble those of the preceding subfamily in
general appearance, but differ in having the bristle of the
antenna plumose or hairy at the base ; the outer end of the
bristle is bare. They are called flesh-flies because many of
them lay their eggs on the bodies of dead animals, resem¬
bling in habits the Blow-fly, which belongs to the sub¬
family Muscinae. The larvae of other species live in dung,
in decaying vegetable matter, and in fruits.

Subfamily DEXUNiE (Dex-i-i'nae).

The Nimble- flies.

In this subfamily the bristle of the antenna is plumose
or bristly to the tip, and the dorsum of the abdomen is
bristly. The legs are usually long. These flies are much
less common than the members of the allied subfamilies; the
larvae of some of the species, at least, are parasitic.

Subfamily MUSCINAS (Mus-ci'nae).

The Typical Muscids (Mies' c ids).

With these flics, as in the preceding subfamily, the bris¬
tle of the antenna is pubescent or plumose to the tip; but
the abdomen is not bristly except near the tip. Here be¬
long many of the best-known members of the Muscidae;
among the more important ones are the following: —

The House-fly, Musca domestica (Mus'ca do-mes'ti-ca). —
This is the most familiar representative of the order Diptera,
as it abounds in our dwellings. It lays its eggs in horse-
manure, a single female laying from one hundred and twenty
to one hundred and sixty eggs; the larvae become full-
grown in from five to seven days, having molted twice ; the
pupa state lasts from five to seven days.

The Stable-fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Sto-mox'ys cal'ci-
trans). — This species resemble the House-fly in appearance;

DIP TER A.

483

but it has its mouth fitted for piercing and for sucking
blood. It annoys cattle greatly; and before storms and
in the autumn it enters our dwellings and attacks us. The
larvae live in fresh horse-manure.

The Horn-fly, Hcematobia serrata (Haem-a-to'bi-a ser-
ra'ta). — This is an exceedingly annoying pest of horned
cattle, which has spread over the United States in recen-t
years. It resembles the House-fly in appearance ; but is
less than half as large. These flies cluster in great numbers
around the base of the horns; they also settle upon the
back. The larvae live in fresh cow-manure.

The Screw-worm Fly, Campsomyia macellaria (Camp-so-
my'i-a mac-el-la'ri-a), is a bright metallic-green fly, with four
black stripes on the upper part of the thorax ; it measures
about one third of an inch in length. This terrible pest
resembles the flesh-flies in habits, and it deposits its eggs
in wounds, sores, and the nostrils and ears of men and
cattle. The larvae living in these situations often cause
serious sickness, and sometimes even death.

The Blow-fly, Calliphora vomit or ia (Cal-liph'o-ra vom-i-
to'ri-a), is larger than the House-fly, and black in color, with
a steel-blue abdomen. It flies with a loud buzzing noise,
and lays its eggs upon meat, cheese, and other provisions.
The eggs hatch in about twenty-four hours, and the larvae
become full-grown in a few days.

Subfamily ANTHOMYIIN7E (An-thomy-i-i'nae).

The A nthomyiids (A n-iho-my'i- ids) .

The members of this subfamily differ from other Ca-
lyptrate Muscidae in having cell III6 widely open, vein V1+2
nearly straight (Fig. 589), and not bent in its outer part
towards the tip of vein III4+6, as in the preceding subfam¬
ilies. In fact, the type of venation is the same as that
which is characteristic of nearly all of the Acalyptrate
Muscidae; and as the alulets are quite small in some of the
Anthomyiids, it is difficult for the beginner to recognize all

484

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

members of this family as such. It is to be hoped that
other characters than those we now know for separating the
Calyptrate Muscidae from the Acalyptrate Muscidae will
soon be discovered.

The Anthomyiids are very common flies. They are
found on leaves and flowers, and are also often found on win¬
dows in our dwellings. The larvae of most species live in
decaying vegetable matter, a few are parasitic on other in¬
sects, and some attack growing plants. Among the latter
are certain well-known pests infesting garden crops. The
more important of these are the following : —

The Cabbage-root Maggot, Phorbia brassicce (Phor'bi-a
bras'si-cae). — This insect in its larval state feeds on the roots
of cabbage, radish, turnip, and cauliflower; it also attacks
the roots of various weeds belonging to the same family of
plants. It is one of the most serious pests that gardeners
have to contend with.

The Onion-fly, Phorbia ceparnm (P. ce-pa'rum). — The
larva of this species is often exceedingly destructive to
onions, consuming the bulb of the plant.

The leaves of beet are often mined by maggots; and it
has been found that this injury is due to several species of
Anthomyiids. The most common of these is Pegornyia
vicina (Peg-o-my'i-a vi-ci'na).

II. Acalyptrate Muscidae (Ac-a-lyp'trate).

To this division of the Muscidae belong a very large
number of common flies. These vary greatly in form, and
represent a large number of distinct subfamilies. As a rule
cell III6 of the wings is widely open (Fig. 591), and vein II
may be either present or wanting. The alulets are usually
very small or rudimentary.

The American species have not yet been sufficiently
studied to enable us to give a table for separating the sub¬
families. We will merely refer, therefore, to a few of the
more important species.

DIP TER A.

485

The Dung-flies, Scatophaga (Sca-toph'a-ga), are rather

in,

slender flies, which have the
hair, and which arc com-
mon, especially about
fresh cow-dung. They
belong to the Subfamily
Cordylurinee (Cor-dyl-u-
ri'nse).

To the subfamilies Or-
talinee (Or-ta-li'nse) and
T rypcti nee ( T ry-p e- 1 i ' n ae)
belong many common
species which have the
wings beautifully marked
with dark spots or bands.

In the Ortalinae vein II
extends to the margin of
the wing in the usual
way; in the Trypetinas
the outer part of vein II
turns suddenly towards
the margin of the wing,
and at the same time
becomes much less dis-

yellowish

Fig. 592. — The Apple-maggot; 1, larva; 2, pupa
rium; 3, adult; ia, head of larva from side,
showing mouth-parts and cephalic spiracle;
ib, head of larva from below; ic, cauda*
spiracle of larva.

FiG.591. — Wing of Callopistria annulipes.

body clothed with

4S6 the study of insects.

tinct. The two following are well-known members of the
Trypetinae.

The Apple-maggot, Trypeta pomonella (Try-pe'ta pom-o-
nel'la.)— This maggot eats into the pulp of apples, boring
tunnels in all directions through the fruit ; it attacks espe¬
cially the early maturing varieties. When full-grown it goes
into the ground to transform. The adult is a black and
white fly, with banded wings (Fig. 592).

The Round Goldenrod Gall. — One of the most familiar
of abnormal growths on plants is a ball-like enlargement of

the stem of goldenrod (Fig. 593).
L / This is caused by a maggot, which
US lives within it, and which develops
M into a pretty fly with banded wings.
W This is Trypeta solidaginis (T. Sol-i-
f dag'i-nis). There is another gall on
Fig. 595-The Round Golden- the stem of goldenrod which is liable
rod Gail. be mistaken for this one, but which

can be easily distinguished from it. It is more elongate,
and is hollow. It is made by the larva of a Tineid moth,
Gelechia gallcesolidaginis (Gc-le'chi-a gal-lai-sol-i-dag'i-nis) , it
may be called the Elliptical Goldenrod Gall.

The Stem-eyed Fly, Sphyracephala brevicornis (Sphyr-a-
ceph'a-la brev-i-cor'nis) is a very singular fly, which is found
on the leaves of skunk-cabbage. On each side of the head
there is horn-like process extending outward, upon the end
of which the eye is situated. This species is the only Amer¬
ican representative of its subfamily, the Diopsina: (Di-op-
si'nae), yet described.

The Cheese-maggot, Piophila casei (Pi oph'i-la ca'se-i) is
the larva of a small black fly, less than half the size of the
House-fly. It belongs to the small subfamily Piophilince
(Pi-oph-i-li'nre), in which vein II of the wings is quite closely
united with vein III. This fly lays its eggs on cheese, ham,
and bacon ; the larvae live in these substances and are often
serious pests. They are commonly known as “ skippers ” on

DIP TER A.

48 7

account of the remarkable jumps which they can make.
This is accomplished by first bringing the head and tail ends
together and then suddenly straightening the body. In this
way one of these maggots can jump several inches.

To the genus Ephydra (Eph'y-dra) of the subfamily
Ephydrince (Eph-y-dri'nae) belong several species the larvae
of which live in marine or strongly alkaline waters. In the
far West and in Mexico these larvae occur in the alkaline
lakes in countless numbers ; and are washed ashore in such
quantities that bushels of them can be collected. They are
gathered by the Indians, who dry them and use them for
food, which they call Koo-cha'bee.

The Pomace-flies. — These are certain small yellowish
flies from one-eighth to one-sixth of an inch in length, which
are very common about the
refuse of cider-mills, decaying
fruit, and fermenting vats of
grape pomace. These are the
pomace-flies ; and their larvae
live in the decaying fruit.

A very common species is
the Vine-loving Pomace-fly, F,G' 594 .-Dro^hiia

Drosophila ampelophila (Dro-soph'i-la am-pe-loph'i-la) (Fig.

594)-

Family HiPPOBOSClD^: (Hip-po-bos'ci-dae).

The Louse-flies .

The louse-flies are very abnormal flies that, in the adult
state, live like lice, parasitically, upon the bodies of birds
and mammals. Some species are winged, others are wing¬
less, and still others are winged for a time and then lose
their wings.

The body is depressed ; the head is closely attached to
the thorax, which is notched to receive it. The antennae
are apparently one-jointed, with a terminal bristle or style;
they are situated in a depression near the mouth. The

488

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

frontal suture is present. The legs are broadly separated
by the sternum ; they are comparatively short and stout ;
the tarsal claws are strong and are often furnished with
teeth. The winged forms vary greatly in the venation of
the wings. The veins near the costal border are usually
strong while the others are weak. Figure 595 represents

the venation of Olfersia . In this genus veins III2-|-S and
III4-f-» separate near the base of the wing. In Hippobosca
they separate at or beyond the middle of the wing.

Even more remarkable than the parasitic life of the adult
flies is the mode of reproduction of these insects. The egg
is hatched within the body of the parent, the larva is nour¬
ished in this position till it is full-grown, and is not born till
it is ready to change to a pupa. This mode of reproduction
is also characteristic of the two following families, which are
frequently on this account classed with this one as a division
of the Diptera, termed Pupipara (Pu-pip'a-ra).

The most common member of the Hippoboscidse is the
Sheeptick, Melophagus ovinus (Me-loph'a-gus o-vi'nus). This
is a wingless species (Fig. 596), which lives upon
sheep. Hippobosca equina (Hip-po-bos'ca e-qui'na)
is winged and lives on the horse. Olfersia anieri -
cana (Ol-fer'si-a a-mer-i-ca'na) is also winged and
is common on owls and other birds. The species
fig. 596. tjie genus Lip0ptera (Li-pop'te-ra) are winged
at first and live on birds ; later they migrate to quadrupeds,

DIP TER A. 489

where they remain, and having no further use for their
wings, they lose them.

Family Nycteribiid.e (Nyc-ter-i-bi'i-dae).

The Bat -ticks.

The bat-ticks are wingless parasites of bats. The body
is depressed ; the head is small and folded back into a groove
on the dorsum of the thorax. The compound eyes are
wanting; the ocelli are present or wanting. The legs are
long, and the tarsal claws of ordinary form. Although
wingless the halteres are present.

The mode of reproduction is similar to that of the
Hippoboscidae.

Family BRAULIDyE (Brau'li-dae).

The Bee- louse .

This is a minute insect, one-sixteenth of an inch in
length, which is parasitic upon the Honey¬
bee (Fig. 597). It is found clinging to the
thorax of queens and drones. It is wing¬
less, and also lacks halteres. The head is
large, but lacks both compound eyes and
ocelli. The legs are comparatively short ;
the last segment of the tarsus is furnished with a pair of
comb-like appendages. Only a single species is known ;
this is Braula cceca (Brau'la cae'ca). Its mode of reproduc¬
tion is similar to that of the Hippoboscidae.

CHAPTER XX.

Order SlPHONAPTERA (Siph-o-nap'te-ra).

The Fleas .

The members of this order are practically wingless , the
wings being represented only by minute scaly plates . The
mouth-parts are formed for sucking . The metamorphosis is
complete .

These tiny tormentors are best known to us in the adult
state ; for it is only during this period that they annoy us
and our household pets. The larvae and pupae are rarely
observed except by students who search for them.

The name of the order is from two Greek words : siphon ,
a tube ; and apteros , wingless. It refers to the form of the
mouth and to the wingless condition of the insects.

In our more common fleas the body of the adult is oval
and greatly compressed, which allows the insect to glide
through the narrow spaces between the hairs of its host.
The integument is smooth, quite hard, and naked, except

that there are many strong spines,
which are arranged with great
regularity (Fig. 598), and thus af¬
ford good characters for distin¬
guishing the different species.
The smoothness and firmness of
the body makes it easy for the
insect to escape when caught be-

Fig. 598. The Dog-flea and its larva. tween the fingers of man or the

teeth of lower animals. Doubtless the backward projecting

490

SIPHON AP TER A.

49 1

spines also aid them in their efforts to escape, as every
wriggle of the body pushes it forward. When once out of
the clutch of an enemy, they quickly leap away.

The head is broadly joined to the thorax. There are no
compound eyes ; but on each side of the head there is a
large ocellus, and hidden in a groove behind the ocellus is
the antenna. The mouth-parts are formed for piercing and
sucking ; the sucking-tube is formed of the upper lip and the
two mandibles ; the maxillae are small, triangular plates and
bear long, four-jointed palpi ; the labium is minute and bears
a pair of terminal, three-jointed palpi. The mesothorax and
metathorax each bears a pair of flat scales, which are sup¬
posed to be rudimentary wings. The legs are long and
strong, and fitted for leaping ; the hinder pair are the larg¬
est and the middle pair next in size.

The eggs are scattered about the floors of dwellings and
in the sleeping-places of infested animals. The larvae are
slender, worm-like creatures, with a distinct head and with¬
out legs (Fig. 598). They have biting mouth-parts, and feed
upon the decaying particles of animal and vegetable matter
always to be found in the dirt in which they live. When
full-grown the larva spins a cocoon within which the pupa
state is passed.

Of the domestic animals only the dog, cat, rabbit, pigeons,
and poultry have fleas. They are most common on dogs
and pigeons. But the species of fleas do not appear to be
so strictly limited to particular animals as are the lice and
some other parasites; for the species that commonly infests
dogs and cats will also attack man without hesitation, and
in this country seems to be more troublesome to our race
than the Human-flea.

To rid a dog or cat of fleas it should be dusted with
Persian insect powder ( Pyrethruni ), and its sleeping-place
thoroughly cleaned. The bedding in kennels should be of
some substance which can be replaced frequently, as shav¬
ings or straw, and when replaced the old bedding should be

492

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS .

burned, and the floors wet with kerosene emulsion or some
other insecticide that will destroy the eggs and larvae.

In regions where fleas abound much relief can be ob¬
tained by the use of rugs on the floors of dwellings instead
of carpets. The frequent shaking of the rugs and cleaning
of the floors will prevent the breeding of these pests within
the house. As a single flea will inflict many bites, it often
happens that a house will seem to be overrun by them when
only a few are present. In such cases a careful search for
and capture of the offenders will soon remedy the evil. We
have found that in catching fleas greater success attends our
efforts if the thumb and forefinger be wet before seizing the
flea, and the insect be placed in a dish of water before we
attempt to destroy it. Otherwise the insect is apt to escape
while we are trying to destroy it.

People that suffer from the attacks of these pests can
also gain much relief by dusting the upper part of their
stockings each morning with Persian insect powder, and by
sprinkling a small quantity of this powder between the
sheets of their beds at night.

This order contains only a single family, the Pulicidce
(Pu-lic'i-dae), of which five or six genera and about twenty-
five species are now known. The species that are most fre¬
quently observed are the following : —

The Dog-flea, Ceratopsyllus serraticeps (Cer-a-to-psyl'lus
ser-rat'i-ceps). — This is the most common flea that infests
dog, cat, and man in this country (Fig. 598). It is reddish
brown ; the lower margin of the head and the hinder margin
of the prothorax each bear on each side from seven to nine
black, tooth-like spines.

The Human-flea, Pulex irritans (Pu'lex ir-ri'tans). This
species lacks the comb-like rows of black spines on the lower
side of the head and on the hinder margin of the prothorax.
It is also usually darker than the preceding species, being
sometimes pitchy brown. It is a common pest in dwellings
in Europe, but is comparatively rare in this country.

SIPHONAP TER A.

493

The Chigoe (Chig'o) or Jigger, Sarcopsylla pe7ietrans
(Sar-co-psyl'la pen'e-trans), is a small flea found in the West
Indies and South America, which often causes serious
trouble to men by burrowing beneath the skin of the foot.
It is the fertile female that does this, and soon after enter¬
ing its host the body of the flea becomes distended with
eggs and acquires the size of a pea.

In the southern United States the names Chigoe and
Jigger are improperly applied to the harvest-mites, which
are the immature six-legged forms of various mites that
attach themselves like ticks to the skin and become gorged
with blood.

CHAPTER XXL

Order COLEOPTERA (Co-le-op'te-ra).

The Beetles .

The members of this order have a pair of horny wing-covers ,
called elytra , which meet in a straight line down the back , and
beneath which there is a single pair of membranous wings .
The mouth-parts are formed for biting. The metamorphosis
is complete .

Beetles can be readily distinguished from all other in¬
sects except earwigs by the possession of horny, veinless
wing-covers which meet in a straight line down the back

(Fig. S99); and they differ from ear¬
wigs in lacking the pincer - like ap¬
pendages at the tail end of the body
characteristic of those insects (see
page 103). Beetles also differ from
earwigs in having a complete meta¬
morphosis.

The name of the order, Coleop-
tera, is from two Greek words: coleosy
a sheath ; and ptero?iy a wing. It refers to the sheath-like
structure of the elytra (el' y-tra) or wing-covers, which are
modified wings.

The structure of the elytra is so different from that usu¬
ally characteristic of wings that F. Meinert was led to be¬
lieve that they were not wings, but greatly enlarged paraptera
of the mesothorax; and unfortunately this view was adopted
in the earlier editions of this book.

The reasons in support of Meinert’s view are the follow¬
ing : the difference in the structure of elytra from that of
wings ; the fact that in the Lepidoptera the paraptera of the

494

COLEOPTERA.

495

mesothorax often bear a striking resemblance to elytra (this
can be well-seen by removing the scales from the paraptera,
orpatagia, as they are termed, of a sphinx moth) ; and the
fact that in many Coleoptera ( e.g.y Dytiscus ) what appear to
be rudiments of the fore wings exist beneath the elytra.

The argument based on the thickened structure of the
elytra loses its force when we consider the more or less elytra¬
like wings of many other insects (Heteroptera, certain Blatti-
dae, et al.) ; and it probably would not have been seriously
urged but for the presence of the so-called rudimentary wings
beneath the elytra of certain beetles. These, however, have
been found to correspond in structure and position to the
alulae of the wings of other insects; but most important of
all, a study of the development of elytra has proven that they
are wings.

The hind wings are membranous, and in most species very
efficient organs of flight. But in some of the pre-eminently
running beetles the hind wings are wanting, and the elytra
serve only as a protection to the abdomen. With some of
these insects the elytra are even grown together where they
meet on the middle line of the back. Instances of this kind
are not uncommon among the ground-beetles and the dark¬
ling beetles.

The different mouth-parts are very evenly developed;
we do not find some of them greatly enlarged at the ex¬
pense of others, as in several other orders of insects. The
upper lip, or labrum, is usually distinct ; the mandibles are
powerful jaws fitted either for seizing prey or for gnawing;
the maxillae are also well developed and are quite compli¬
cated, consisting of several distinct pieces; the maxillary
palpi are usually prominent; and the lower lip, or labium, is
also well developed and complicated, consisting of several
parts and bearing prominent labial palpi.

The larvae are commonly called grubs. They are usually
furnished with six thoracic legs, and often with a single
proleg at the caudal end of the body ; some, however, as

49<5

THE STUD V OF INSECTS .

the larvae of the snout-beetles, are entirely destitute of
jointed legs. The pupae have the partially developed elytra,

♦ wings, and legs folded upon the breast, but in dis¬
tinct sheaths (Fig. 600). These insects usually
transform in rude cocoons made of earth or of bits
of wood fastened together by a viscid substance ex¬
creted by the larvse. Many wood-burrowing species
transform in the tunnels made by the larvae ; and
fig. 600. some 0f the Dermestids as well as some of the
lady-bugs transform in the last larval skin.

Both beetles and their larvae vary greatly in their habits ;
while some species are very beneficial to man, others are
extremely noxious.

More than eleven thousand species of beetles, represent¬
ing upwards of eighty families, are known to occur in Amer¬
ica north of Mexico. The following synopsis will aid the
student in learning the relationships of these families: —

SYNOPSIS OF THE COLEOPTERA.

{See page 505 for a table for determining specimens.)

A. The Typical Coleoptera. — Beetles with the head and mouth-
parts of the ordinary form.

B. The Isomera (I-som'e-ra). — Typical Coleoptera in which the
hind tarsi have as many segments as the others. (There are a
few exceptions to this character among the Clavicornia.)

C. Isomera in which the fourth and fifth tarsal segments are not
grown together.

D. The Adephaga (A-deph'a-ga) or Predaceous Beetles . —
Isomera in which the first three ventral abdominal segments
are grown together, and the first of these is divided by the
hind coxal cavities so that the sides are separated from the
very small medial part.

The Tiger-beetles, p. 516 . Family CiCiNDELiDiE.

The Ground-beetles, p. 518 . Family Car abid^e.

The Amphizoids. p. 521 . Family Amphizoida2.

The Haliplids. p. 522 . . Family Haliplidal

The Predaceous Diving-beetles, p. 523. Family DytisciDjE.
The Whirligig Beetles, p. 525 . Family GYRiNiDiE.

COLEOPTERA.

497

DD. The Clavicornia (Clav-i-cor'ni-a) or Clavicorn Beetles.
— Isomera in which the first ventral abdominal segment is
visible for its entire breadth, and in which the antennae are
usually clavate or capitate, but not lamellate.

The Water Scavenger Beetles, p. 527.

Family Hydrophilid./e.

The Beaver-parasite, p. 529 . Family Platypsyllid.e.

The Leptinids. p. 529 . Family Leptinidje.

The Carrion-beetles, p. 529 . Family SilphidjE.

The Scydmaenids. p. 531 . Family Sc YDM/ENiDiE.

The Pselaphids. p. 531 . Family PsELAPHiDiE.

The Rove-beetles, p. 532 . Family Staphylinidas.

The Feather-wing Beetles, p. 533.

Family Trichopterygid^e.

The Hydroscaphids. p. 533 . Family HYDROSCAPHiDiE.

The Sphaeriids. p. 533 . Family SpHjERUDjE.

The Scaphidiids. p. 533 . Family SCAPHiDUDiE.

The Phalacrids. p. 534 . Family Phalacridje.

The Corylophids. p. 534 . Family CorylophidjE.

The Lady-bugs. p. 534 . Family Coccinellid;e.

The Endomychids. p. 535 . Family Endomychid^e.

The Erotylids. p. 536 . Family EROTYLiDiE.

The Colydiids. p. 537 . Family COLYDiiDiE.

The Rhyssodids. p. 537 . Family Rhyssodid^e.

The Cucujids. p. 537 . Family Cucujid.e.

The Cryptophagids. p. 538 . Family CRYPTOPHAGiDiE.

The Mycetophagids. p. 538 . Family Mycetophagidje.

The Dermestids. p. 538 . Family Dermestidje.

The Histcrids. p. 541 . Family Histeridje.

The Nitidulids. p. 541 . . Family NlTiDULiDiE.

The Trogositids. p. 542 . Family Trogositidje.

p. 542 . Family MoNOTOMiDiE.

p. 542 . Family LATHRiDiiDiE.

p. 542 . Family Derodontid^e.

p. 542 . Family Byrrhid^e.

p. 543 . Family GEORYSSiDiE.

543 . Family Parnidje.

p. 543 . Family Heterocerid^e.

The Monotomids.
The Lathridiids.
The Derodontids.
The Pill-beetles.
The Georyssids.
The Pam ids. p.
The Heterocerids.

D DD. The Serricornia (Ser-ri-cor'ni-a) or Serricorn Beetles.
— Isomera in which the first ventral abdominal segment
is visible for its entire breadth, and in which the antennae
are usually serrate.

33

498

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The Dascyllids. p. 544 . Family Dascyllida:.

The Rhipicerids. p. 544 . Family RhipiCERIDjE.

The Click-beetles, p. 544 . Family Elaterida:.

The Throscids. p. 548 . Family ThrosCida.

The Buprestids. p. 548 . Family Buprestida.

The Fire-fly Family, p. 550 . Family Lampyrida.

The Malachiids. p. 552 . Family Malachiida.

The Checkered-beetles, p. 552 . Family Clerida.

The Ptinids. p. 553 . .Family Ptinida.

The Cupesids. p. 553 . Family Cupesida.

The Ship-timber Beetle Family, p. 553-

Family Lymexylidje.

TheCiids. p. 554 . Family Ciid*:.

The Sphindids. p. 554 . Family Sphindidje.

DDDD. The Lamellicornia (La-mel-li-cor'ni-a) or Lamelli-
com Beetles. — Isomera in which the first ventral abdominal
segment is visible for its entire breadth and in which the
antennae have a lamellate club.

The Stag-beetles, p. 554 . Family Lucanidje.

The Scarabaeids. p. 556 . Family Scar a b^idas.

CC. The Phytophaga (Phy-toph'a-ga). — Isomera in which the
fourth and fifth tarsal segments are grown together ; the fourth
tarsal segment is usually very small, and concealed in a notch

in the third segment.

The Aberrant Long-horned Beetles, p. 566.

Family SrONDYLiDJE.

The Long-horned Beetles, p. $67 . Family Cerambycidas.

The Leaf-beetles, p. 574 . .. .Family Chrysomelidas.

The Pea-weevil Family, p. 581 . Family Bruchidje.

BB. The Heteromera (Het-e-rom'e-ra) or Heteromerous Beetles.
— Typical Coleoptera in which the fore and middle tarsi are five-
jointed, and the hind tarsi four-jointed.

The Darkling Beetles, p. 582 . Family TenebrioniD/E.

The ^Egialitids. p. 584 . Family ^EGlALiTiDiE.

The Cistelids. p. 584 . - . Family Cistelid^e.

The Othniids. p. 584 . Family Othniid^e.

The Lagriids. p. 584 . Family Lagriidje.

The Monommids. p. 584 . Family Monommid^e.

The Melandryids. p. 585 . Family Mej.andryida-:.

The Pythids. p. 585 . . . Family Pythidas.

The CEdemerids. p. 585 . Family CEdemeridas.

The Cephaloids. p. 585 . Family Cephaloidas.

COLEOPTERA.

499

The Mordellids. p. 586 . Family Mordellidas.

The Anthicids. p. 586 . Family ANTHiciDiE.

The Pyrochroids. p. 586 . Family PYROCHROiDiE.

The Blister-beetles, p. 586 . . Family Meloid;e.

The Rhipiphorids. p. 589 . Family RniPiPHORiDiE.

The Stylopids. p. 589 . Family STYLOPiDiE.

AA. The Rhynchophora (Rhyn-choph'o-ra) or Snout-Beetles. —
Beeiles in which the head is more or less prolonged into a beak,

and in which the palpi are short and rigid.

The Rhinomacerids. p. 590 . . Family RHiNOMACERiDiE.

The Rhynchitids. p. 591 . Family Rhynchitid^:.

The Leaf-rolling Weevils, p. 591 . Family Attelabid^e.

The Byrsopids. p.591 . Family Byrsopids.

The Scarred Snout-beetles, p. 592 . Family OtiorhynchidjE.

The Curculios. p. 593 . Family CURCULlONiDiE.

The Brenthids. p. 594 . Family Brenthims.

The Bill-bugs. p. 595 . Family Calandrid^e.

The Engraver-beetles, p. 596 . Family Scolyt id jE.

The Anthribids. p. 598 . Family Anthribid^e.

CLASSIFICATION OF THE COLEOPTERA.

{For Advanced Students .)

In order to use the table for determining the families of beetles it
is necessary that the student should become familiar with certain

Fig. 601.— Head of Harfialus : a , dorsal aspect ; K ventral
aspect: 1, occiput; 2 cpicrantum; 3. eyp; 5- clypcus; 6,
gula; 7, antenna; 8, labrum: 10, mandibles, lid, maxillary
palpus; 1 j/, galea or outer lobe of maxilla; 12a, submen.
turn; 12 d, labial palpus; cs , clypeal suture; gs, gular
suture*

Fig. 602. — Head and pro-
thorax of Rhynchophorus:
c, coxa; etn, epimeron;./i
femur; gs, gular suture;
j, prosternum

terms not defined in the discussion of the external anatomy of insects
on pages 56-67. The following notes are therefore given as a supple-
ment to that discussion.

The Head.— Two of the sclerites that enter into the composition

500

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

of the external wall of the head are frequently referred to in descrip¬
tions of beetles; these are the clypeus and the gula. The clypeus
(clyp'e-us) is situated on the dorsal side of the head, and is the sclerite
to which the labrum is attached. (Fig. 601, a , 5.) The gula (gu'la)
is the central portion of the ventral wall of the head, and is the part
which bears the labium (Fig. 601, by 6). The sutures which bound the
gula, one on each side, are termed the gular sutures (Fig. 601, b. gs).
In the Rhynchophora the gula appears to be wanting, and there is a
single suture on the middle line of the head (Fig. 602, gs) ; in this case
the gular sutures are said to be confluent. The suture which separates
the clypeus from the sclerite immediately behind it (the epicranium)
termed the clypeal suture (Fig. 601, a , cs).

The Antenna. — The more common types of antennae are named
and figured on page 60. But it is necessary to define two
other terms here. In many insects the first segment of the
antenna is long and the antenna is bent suddenly at the
joint between the first and second segments; such antennae
are said to be elbowed or geniculate (ge-nic'u-late). In some
pectinate antennae the tooth-like processes are very long,
giving the antenna a more or less fan-like appearance ; such
antennae arc defined as fiabellate (fla-bel'late) (Fig. 603).

Fig. 603. The Mouth-parts . — The labrum and mandibles are suffi¬
ciently described on page 61. The parts of the maxillae are repre¬
sented in Figs. 604, 605, and 606; of these there are five primary

parts and three appendages. The primary parts are the cardo or hinge
(a), the stipes (sti'pes) or footstalk (<$), the palpifer (pal'pi-fer) or pal-
pus-bearer (c), the subgalea (sub-ga'le-a) or helmet-bearer (e), and the
lacinia (la-cin'i-a) or blade (g). The appendages are the maxillary
palpus or feeler ( d ), the galea (ga'le-a) or outer lobe or superior lobe
(/,/), and the digitus (dig'i-tus) or finger (h).

COLEOPTERA.

501

The parts of the maxilla to which reference is most often made are
the palpus and the galea. The number and form of the segments of
the palpus are much used in descriptions ; as is also the presence or
absence of the galea. When the galea is developed as a distinct ap¬
pendage, the maxilla is said to be bilobed, the galea being termed the
outer lobe% and the lacinia, or blade, the inner lobe (Fig. 604). When
the galea is not developed so as to appear as an appendage the
maxilla is said to have but one lobe.

The intermediate portion of the labium is F,ocf- c^~ Labium

submentum; m,
mcntura ; jr, labial
palpus; g, glossa,
/, paraglossa.

Much use is made of the form of the parts of the labium or lower
lip in descriptions of beetles. When fully developed the labium con¬
sists of three principal parts and a pair of appendages. The principal
parts are the submentum % the mentum, and the ligula ; the appendages
are the labial palpi. The basal part of the labium, the part which is
joined to the gula, is the submentum (Fig. 607, sin).

By an unfortunate error this sclerite is almost in¬
variably described in works on the Coleoptera as the
mentum. This fact should be borne in mind by the
student when using any of the older books on this
subject.

the mentum (Fig. 607, ///) ; and the distal portion
the ligula. The ligula is a compound organ ; but
in beetles the sutures between the different sclerites
of which it is composed are usually obsolete. Three parts, however,
are commonly distinguished, a central part, which is sometimes
divided at the tip, th eglossa (Fig. 607,^), and two parts, one on each
side of the glossa, the paraglossa: (Fig. 607, p). The part on each side
which bear the palpus is termed, when it is distinct, the palpiger.

The Thorax. — Each segment of the thorax is composed of several
sclerities. The shape and relative position of these sclerites afford
characters which are much used in classification. Figure 608 is a dia¬
grammatic representation of what is considered the typical arrange¬
ment of these parts in each of the thoracic segments. Each segment
of the thorax is a ring, which is divided into four parts: a dorsal, a
ventral, and two lateral. The dorsal part is named the notum (no'tum)
or tergum (ter'gum); each lateral part the pleurum (pleu'rum) ; and
the ventral part the sternum (stcr'num).

When the notum or sternum of a particular thoracic segment is to
be indicated, it is done by the use of one of the prefixes pro , meso , or
met a. In this way are formed the terms pronotum , mesonotum , meta-
no turn, prosternum, mesosternum and metasternum; which are applied
to the nota and sterna of the prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax
respectively.

/

502

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The tergum or dorsal wall of each thoracic segment is composed
typhically of four sclerities. These are ar¬
ranged in a linear series (Figs. 6o8, 609).
They are named, beginning with the first or
most cephalic, prccscutum (prae-scu'tum) (a),
scutum (scu'tum) ( b)%scutellum (scu-tei'lum) (r),
and postscutellum (post-scu-teriuin) (< d ). In
the prothorax of beetles the sutures between
these four sclerites are obsolete, the pronotum
appearing to be composed of a single sclerite (Fig. 609, 14). The
mesonotum and metanotum are usually covered by the wings and

Fig. 608. — Diagram of the
fixed parts of a thoracic
segment.

Fig. 609 — Dorsal aspect of the thorax of a
beetle; 14, pronotum; 15, mesonotum ; 16,
metanotum. Dysticus% dissected. (After
Audouin.)

elytra, excepting the scutellum of the mesothorax, which is usually
quite conspicuous, appearing as a more or less triangular piece be¬
tween the elytra at their base (Fig. 610). As this is the only one of
the three scutella that is usually seen, it is termed the scutellum.

Each pleurum or lateral part of each thoracic segment is composed
chiefly or entirely of two sclerites, arranged more or less obliquely.
The first of these (Fig. 608, e ) is the episternum (ep-i-ster'num), the
second (Fig. 608,/) is the epimeron (ep-i-me'ron). A third sclerite
(Fig. 608, £-) is sometimes present near the dorsal end of the epister¬
num; this is the parapteron (pa-rap'te-ron.) Paraptera have not been
found in the prothorax. In beetles the paraptera of the mesothorax

COLEOPTERA.

503

were supposed, for a time, to be represented by the elytra or wing-
covers. See pages 494 and 495, where this unfortunate error is dis¬
cussed.

Each sternum or ventral part of each thoracic segment is composed

Fig. 611. — Ventral aspect of a beetle, Enchronta gigantea : /,
head; 2C, gena of the epicranium; 3, eye; 7, antenna; //,
thorax; 14, prothorax; 14®, proepisternum or episternum of
the prothorax; i4r, procpimeron or cpimeron of the prothorax;

141, prosternum; 15. mesothorax; 15", mesoepisternum; 15',
mesoepimeron: 151, mesosternum; 16, metathorax; x6«, meta-
episternum; if/, raetaepimeron; 16*, metasternum; i6u, ante-
coxal piece of the metnsternum; 17®, coxa; 17®*, trochantin;
i7b, trochanter; 17®. femur; i7d, tibia; 17®, tarsus; 17®*, tarsal
claws; t7®3, pul villi; t8, elytron.

of a single sclerite (Fig. 608. z.) As indicated above, the three sterna
are designed as the prosternum, mesosternum, and metasternum,
respectively.

In some beetles the metasternum is divided into two unequal por-

504

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

tions by a suture which extends transversely a short distance in front
of the caudal margin ; the smaller sclerite which borders the posterior
coxse in front and often passes between them is called the ante-coxal
piece of the met aster tan (Fig. 6 1 1 , 16 i1).

The openings in the thoracic segments in which the legs are in¬
serted are termed the coxal cavities . Much use is made in the classi¬
fication of beetles of the form of the coxal cavities of the prothorax.
When the epimera of the prothorax extend behind the coxae and
reach the prosternum, the coxal cavities are said to be closed (Fig. 612) ;

Fig. 612.— Prothorax of
Harpalus; c , coxa ; etH,
epimeron ; es, epister-
num; femur ; n, pro-
notum ; j, j, j, proster¬
num.

Penthe ; c , coxa; cc ,
coxal cavity; /, femur;
s, prosternum; f, tro¬
chanter.

Fig. 614.

when the epimera do not extend behind the coxae to the prosternum,
the coxal cavities are described as open (Fig. 613).

The Legs. — The parts of the leg are described on page 62. In ad¬
dition to what is said there it should be noted that in beetles the
coxae of the hind legs are frequently broad plates which appear to
belong to the fixed parts of the thorax, differing greatly in form from
the fore and middle coxae (Fig. 611, 17*).

In many beetles there is a small sclerite which is supposed to be an
appendage of the coxa ; this is the trochantin (tro-chan'tin) ; the tro-
chantins of the fore and hind coxae are represented in Fig. 61 1, and
are lettered I7al.

The student should understand clearly the numbering of the seg¬
ments of the tarsi. In counting these segments the claws borne by
the last segment are not included, but the segment that bears these
claws is counted. This fact should be carefully noted. We have
found that students are very apt to omit counting this segment, espe¬
cially when it differs in form from the preceding segments. Two of
the more common types of the tarsi of beetles are represented in Fig.
614, with the segments numbered.

Students wishing to carry their study of beetles beyond the scope of
this text-book should procure the “ Classification of the Coleoptera of

COLEOPTERA.

505

North America/* by LeConte and Horn. This work can be purchased
of the Secretary of the American Entomological Society, Philadelphia,
Pa. In the following pages we have followed closely the classification
proposed by these authors, and have made free use of the character¬
izations given by them ; hence it will be easy for a student to pass
from a study of this chapter to the use of that indispensable work.

TABLE FOR DETERMINING THE FAMILIES OF THE
COLEOPTERA.*

A. Head not prolonged into a narrow beak ; palpi always flexible ;
two gular sutures at least before and behind (Fig. 601) ; prosternal
sutures distinct (Fig. 612) ; the epimera of the prothorax not meet¬
ing on the middle line behind the prosternum (Fig. 612).

Typical Coleoptera.

B. Hind tarsi with at least as many segments as the others.

C. Tarsi usually apparently four-jointed, the fourth segment
being reduced in size so as to form an indistinct segment at
the base of the last segment, with which it is immovably united
(Fig. 615, 4) ; the first three segments of the tarsi dilated and

Fig. 615.

Fig. 616.

Fig. 617.

brush-like beneath; the third segment bilobed. In a single
family, the Spondylidse, the fourth segment of the tarsus,
although much reduced and immovably united with the fifth,
is distinctly visible, the first three segments are but slightly
dilated, and the third is either bilobed or not (Fig. 616, a

and b) . Phytophaga.

D. Fourth segment of tarsus distinctly visible ; segments of
antennae with deep impressions containing the organs of
special sense (Fig. 617). p. 566 . Spondylidse.

* This table is based largely on the tables given by Le Conte and Horn.
Aid was also derived in its preparation from the table of European Coleop
tera by L. Redtenbacher.

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

S06

DD. Fourth segment of tarsus inconspicuous ; organs of spe¬
cial sense of antennae diffused. This group contains three
families, which are so connected by intermediate forms that
it is not easy to separate them. The following characters
will aid the student in separating the more typical forms :

E. Body elongate; antennae almost always long, often as
long as the body or longer. The larvae are borers, p. 567.

Cerambycidas.

EE. Body short and more or less oval ; antennae short.

F. Front prolonged into a broad quadrate beak; elytra
rather short, so that the tip of the abdomen is always
exposed. The larvae live in seeds, p. 581..BRUCHID.E.
FF. Front not prolonged into a beak; usually the tip of
the abdomen is covered by the elytra. Both larvae and
adults feed on the leaves of plants, p. 574.

ChrysomeliDjE.

CC. Tarsi varying in form, but when five-jointed not of the type
described under C, the joint between the fourth and fifth seg¬
ments being flexible.

D. Ventral part of the first segment of the abdomen divided
by the hind coxal cavities, so that the sides are separated
from the very small medial part.

E. Metasternum with an antecoxal piece, separated by a
well-marked suture reaching from one side to the other,
and extending in a triangular process between the hind
coxae.

F. Antennae eleven-jointed ; hind coxae mobile, and of the
usual form ; habits terrestrial.

G. Antennae inserted on the front above the base of the

mandibles, p. 516 . Cicindelid.e,

GG. Antennae arising at the side of the head between
the base of the mandibles and the eyes. p. 518.

Carabidas

FF. Antennae ten-jointed ; hind coxae fixed and greatly
expanded so as to conceal the basal half of the hind
femora and from three to six of the abdominal seg¬
ments ; habits aquatic, p. 522 . HalipliDjE.

EE. Metasternum either with a very short antecoxal piece,
which is separated by an indistinct suture, and which is
not prolonged posteriorly between the coxae, or without
an antecoxal piece.

F. Metasternum with a very short antecoxal piece, p.521.

Amphizoid^e.

COLEOPTERA .

SO J

FF. Metasternum without an antecoxal piece.

G. Legs fitted for swimming.

H. With only two eyes. p. 523 . Dytiscide.

HH. With four eyes, two above and two below, p.

525 . . . . . . GYRINIDE.

GG. Legs fitted for walking, p. 537 . Rhyssodide.

DD. Ventral part of the first segment of the abdomen visible
for its entire breadth.

E. Antennas with a lamellate club (Fig. 74, 8, page 60).

F. Plates composing club of antennas not capable of close
apposition, and usually not flattened, p. 554.

LUCANIDE.

FF. Plates composing club of antennae capable of close

apposition, and flattened, p. 556 . Scarabeide.

EE. Antennae either clubbed or not, but when clubbed not

lamellate.

F. Elytra short, leaving the greater part of the abdomen
exposed ; the suture between the elytra when closed
straight; wings present, and when not in use folded
beneath the short elytra ; the dorsal part of the abdom¬
inal segments entirely horny.

G. Abdomen flexible, and with seven or eight segments

visible below, p. 532 . . . Staphylinide.

GG. Abdomen not flexible, and with only five or six
ventral segments visible, p. 531 . Pselaphide*

FF. Elytra usually long, covering the greater part of the
abdomen ; when short the wings are wanting, or if pres¬
ent are not folded under the short elytra when at rest;
the dorsal part of the abdominal segments partly mem¬
branous.

G. Hind tarsi five-jointed.

H. Antennae elbowed, and clavate.

I. Elytra truncate behind, leaving two segments of

the abdomen uncovered, p. 541 - Histeride.

II. Elytra entire, p. 553 . Ptinide.

HH. Antennae rarely elbowed, and then not clavate.

I. Maxillary palpi as long as or longer than the

antennae, p. 5 27 . Hydrophilide.

II. Mnxillary palpi much shorter than the antennae.

J. Tarsal claws very large ; the first three abdom¬
inal segments grown together on the ventral
side. p. 543 . Parnide.

508

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

JJ. Tarsal claws of usual size ; ventral abdominal
segments usually free ; sometimes (Buprestidse)
the first two are grown together.

K. Abdomen with only five ventral segments.

L. Femur joined to the apex or very near the
apex of the trochanter, p. 553. ..Ptinid^e.

LL. Femur joined to the side of the tro¬
chanter.

M. Anterior coxae globular or transverse,
usually projecting but little from the
coxal cavity.

N. Anterior coxae transverse, more or
less cylindrical.

O. Posterior coxae grooved for the re¬
ception of the femora.

P. Legs stout, retractile ; tibiae di¬
lated, usually with a furrow near the
outer end for the reception of the
tarsi ; tibial spurs distinct, p. 542.

Byrrhidje.

PP. Tibiae slender, with small and
sometimes obsolete terminal spurs,
or without spurs.

Q. Head constricted behind ; eyes
smooth, p. 553. .... CupesiDjE.
QQ. Head not constricted behind ;
eyes granulated, p. 544.

DASCYLLID®.
OO. Posterior coxae flat; not grooved
for the reception of the femora.

P. Tarsi more or less dilated, first
segment not short, p. 541.

NlTIDULID®.
PP. Tarsi slender, first segment

short, p. 542 . Trogositid®.

NN. Anterior coxae globular.

O. Prosternum with a process which
extends backward into a groove in
the mesosternum.

P. The first two abdominal segments
grown together on the ventral side,
p. 548 . BUPRESTID®.

COLEOPTERA.

509

PP. Ventral segments free.

Q. Prothorax loosely joined to the
mesothorax ; front coxal cavities
entirely in the prosternum, p. 544.

ELATERIDjE.

QQ. Prothorax firmly joined to
the mesothorax ; front coxal cav¬
ities closed behind by the meso-
sternum, p. 548. . .Throscidas.

OO. Prosternum without a process re¬
ceived by the mesosternum, although
it may be prolonged so as to meet
the mesosternum.

P. Posterior coxae contiguous, p.534.

PHALACRIDiE.

PP. Posterior coxae separated.

Q. Body very depressed; middle
coxal cavities not closed exter¬
nally by a meeting of the meso¬
sternum and metasternum, p. 537.

CUCUJIDjE.

QQ. Body more or less convex;
middle coxal cavities entirely sur¬
rounded by the sterna.

R. Prosternum not prolonged
behind, p. 538.

MYCETOPHAGIDiE.
RR. Prosternum prolonged
meeting the mesosternum.

S. Anterior coxal cavities open
behind, p. 538.

CRYPTOPHAGIDjE,

SS. Anterior coxal cavities
closed behind, p. 536.

ErOTYLIDjE.

MM. Anterior coxae conical, and projecting
prominently from the coxal cavities.

N. Posterior coxae dilated into plates
partially protecting the femora, at least
at their bases.

O. Antennae serrate or flabellate.
p. 544 . Rhipiceridje.

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

510

OO. Antennae with the last three seg¬
ments forming a large club. p. 538.

Dermestidje.
OOO. Antennae with the last three
segments somewhat larger than the
preceding, but not suddenly en¬
larged. p. 542 . Derodontidje.

NN. Posterior coxae not dilated into plates
partially protecting the femora.

O. Posterior coxae flat, not prominent,
covered by the femora in repose.

p. 552 . Clerid^e.

OO. Posterior coxae oval, not promi¬
nent. p. 533 . SCAPHIDIIDiE.

OOO. Posterior coxae conical and
prominent.

P. Anterior coxae with distinct tro-
chantins. p. 552. ..Malachiid,e.
PP. Anterior coxae without tro-
chantins. p. 553. . .Lymexylid^e.
KK. Abdomen with six or more ventral seg¬
ments.

L. Anterior coxae flat. p. 529.

Platypsyllid^e.
LL. Anterior coxae either globular or conical.

M. Anterior coxae globular.

N. Prosternum prolonged behind, form¬
ing an acute process moving in the

mesosternum. p. 544 _ Elaterid^e.

NN. Prosternum not prolonged behind.

p. 529 . Leptinid^e.

MM. Anterior coxae conical.

N. Posterior coxae not prominent, flat,
covered by the femora in repose.

p. 552 . CLERIDjE.

NN. Posterior coxae more or less conical
and prominent at least internally, not
covered by the femora in repose.

O. Posterior coxae widely separated.

P. Eyes wanting or inconspicuous.

p. 529 . SlLPHIDiE.

PP. With well-developed eyes.

COLE OP TER A .

s«

Q. Elytra covering the abdomen.

p. 531 . SCYDM/ENIDJE.

QQ. Elytra not covering the entire
abdomen, p. 533.

SCAPHIDIIDjE.

OO. Posterior coxae approximate.

P. Antennae gradually thickened, or
clavate ; posterior tarsi not wid¬
ened. p. 529 . SlLPHIDiE,

PP. Antennae setaceous, filiform,
serrate, pectinate, or flabellate,
rarely with three somewhat larger
terminal segments, in which case
the tarsi are widened.

Q. Anterior coxae long, with dis¬
tinct trochantins.

R. Abdomen with seven or eight
ventral segments, p. 550.

LAMPYRIDiE.
RR. Abdomen with only six
ventral segments, p. 552.

MALACHIIDiE.
QQ. Anterior coxae without tro¬
chantins. p. 553..Lymexylid,e.
GG. Hind tarsi either only three-jointed or four-jointed,
but apparently three-jointed, the third segment being
small and concealed in a notch at the end of the sec¬
ond segment. (See also GGG.)

H. Wings fringed with long hairs.

I. Abdomen with six or seven ventral segments.

\ Tarsi four-jointed, the third segment small and
concealed in a notch at the end of the second

segment, p. 534 . Corylophid^e.

JJ. Tarsi three jointed.

K. Antennae slender, verticillate, with long hair,
abdomen not prolonged, p. 533.

TRICHOPTERYGIDiE.
KK. Antennae short, not verticillate, abdomen

prolonged, p. 533 . Hydroscaphid;E.

II. Abdomen with only three ventral segments,

p. 533 . . . SPJEERIIDiE.

HH. Wings not fringed with hairs.

512

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

I. Tarsi with second segment dilated.

J. Tarsal claws appendiculate or toothed ; first
ventral abdominal segment with distinct curved

coxal lines, p. 534 . Coccinellidje.

JJ. Tarsal claws simple; first ventral abdominal
segment without coxal lines, p. 535.

ENDOMYCHIDiE.

II. Tarsi with second segment not dilated.

J. Elytra entirely covering the abdomen ; ventral
abdominal segments nearly equal, p. 542.

Lathridiidje.

JJ. Elytra truncate ; the first and fifth ventral ab¬
dominal segments longer than the others.

K. Maxilla with galea distinct; anterior coxae

small, rounded, p. 542 . MONOTOMID^E.

KK. Galea wanting, anterior coxae subtrans-

verse. p. 541 . Nitidulid^e.

GGG. All tarsi four-jointed.

H. The first four abdominal segments grown together
on the ventral side.

I. Tibiae dilated, armed with rows of spines, and

fitted for digging, p. 543 . HETEROCERlDiE.

II. Tibiae not dilated nor fitted for digging, p. 537.

COLYDIIDiE.

HH. Ventral segments of abdomen not grown to¬
gether.

I. Wings fringed with hairs.

J. Hind coxae contiguous and with plates cover¬
ing the femora entirely or in part. p. 529.

SILPHID.E.

JJ. Hind coxae separate and not covering the
femora, p. 543 . Corylophidje.

II. Wings not fringed with hairs.

J. Anterior coxae transverse, p. 541.

NlTIDULIDiE.

JJ. Anterior coxae either globose or oval.

K. Anterior coxae globose.

L. Tarsi slender, p. 535 _ Endomychid;e.

LL. Tarsi more or less dilated and spongy

beneath, p. 536 . Erotylid/e.

KK. Anterior coxae oval.

COLEOPTERA. 5I3

L. Anterior coxae separated by the horny
prosternum.

M. Body depressed, head free. p. 538.

Mycetophagide.
MM. Body cylindrical, thorax prolonged

over the head. p. 554 . Ciide.

LL. Anterior coxae contiguous, prosternum
semimcmbranous. p. 543. . . .Georysside.
BB. Hind tarsi with only four segments, the fore tarsi, and almost
always the middle tarsi also, with five segments.

C. Anterior coxal cavities closed behind.

D. Tarsal claws simple.

E. Abdomen with five ventral segments.

F. Ventral abdominal segments in part grown together.

G. Next to the last segment of tarsi spongy beneath.

p. 584. . LAGRIIDE.

GG. Penultimate segment of tarsi not spongy, p. 582.

Tenebrionide

FF. Ventral abdominal segments free.

G. Anterior coxal cavities confluent, p. 584.

OTHNIIDE.

GG. Anterior coxal cavities separated by the proster¬
num.

H. Elytra truncate, tip of abdomen exposed. (Rhzzo-

fihagUS.) p. 541 . NlTIDULIDE.

HH. Elytra entire, p. 554 . Sphindide.

EE. Abdomen with six ventral segments.

F. The first two ventral abdominal segments grown to¬
gether ; the last two closely united, p. 584.iEGiALiTiDE.
FF. Ventral abdominal segments free. p. 529.

SlLPHIDE.

DD. Tarsal claws pectinate, p. 5^4 . Cistelide.

CC. Anterior coxal cavities open behind.

D. Head not strongly and suddenly constricted at base.

E. Middle coxae not very prominent.

F. Antennae received in grooves, p. 584. ..Monommide.
FF. Antennae free.

G. Prothorax margined at the sides.

H. Middle coxal cavities entirely surrounded by the

sterna, p. 538 . Cryptophagide.

HH. Epimera of mesothorax reaching the coxae.

34

5H

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

I. Metasternum long ; epimera of metathorax visi¬
ble. p. 585 . MELANDRYIDjE.

II. Metasternum quadrate; epimera of metathorax

covered, p. 53 7 . CucujlDiE.

GG. Prothorax not margined at the sides, p. 585.

PYTHID.L.

EE. Middle coxae very prominent, p. 585 . . .CEdemerid.<e.
DD. Head strongly constricted at base.

E. Head prolonged behind and gradually narrowed, p. 583

CEPHALOIDAi.

EE. Head suddenly narrowed behind.

F. Prothorax with the side pieces not separated from the
pronotum by a suture.

G. Tarsi perfect, with distinct claws t eyes normal.

H. Prothorax at base narrower than the elytra.

I. Hind coxae not prominent, or but slightly so.

J. Anterior coxae globular, not prominent, p. 537.

CUCUJIDiE.

JJ. Anterior coxae conical, prominent, p. 586.

ANTHICIDjE.

II. Hind coxae large, prominent.

J. Tarsal claws simple ; head horizontal, p. 586.

Pyrochroid^e.

JJ. Claws cleft or toothed ; front vertical, p. 586.

MELOIDiE.

HH. Prothorax, at base, as wide as the elytra, p. 589.

RHIPIPHORID/E.

GG. Tarsi without claws ; eyes pedunculated, p. 589.

STYLOPIDiE.

FF. Lateral suture of prothorax distinct ; base of pro¬
thorax as wide as the elytra.

G. Antennae filiform.

H. Hind coxae plate-like. p. 586 . Mordellid^e.

HH. Hind coxae, not plate-like. p. 585.

Melandryid^e.

GG. Antennae flabellate in the male, subserrate in the

female, p. 589 . Rhipiphorid,e.

AA. Head more or less prolonged into a beak ; palpi short and
rigid; gular sutures confluent on the median line (Fig. 602, gs);
prosternal sutures wanting; the epimera of the prothorax meeting
on the middle line behind the prosternum. (Fig. 602, em.)

Rhynchophora.

COLEOPTERA .

515

B. Elytra with no fold or with a very feeble one on the lower sur¬
face near the outer edge ; pygidium of male and female alike.

C. Labrum distinct, p. 590 . RHiNOMACERiDiE.

CC. Labrum wanting.

D. Mandibles flat, toothed on inner and outer sides, p. 591.

Rhynchitid^e.

DD. Mandibles stout, pincer-shaped. p. 591 . . . Attelabid^e.
BB. Elytra with a very strong fold on the lower surface near the
outer margin.

C. The last dorsal segment (pygidium) of the male divided
transversely, so that this sex appears to have one more dorsal
segment than the female.

D. Antennae with a ringed or solid club.

E. Tarsi narrow, setose or spinose beneath, p. 591.

BYRSOPIDiE.

EE. Tarsi usually dilated, brush-like beneath.

F. Mandibles with a deciduous piece, which is lost soon
after emergence from the pupa state, and leaves a scar.

p# . . Otiorhynchidje.

FF. Mandibles without accessory piece in the pupa state,
and therefore without a scar in the adult state, p. 593*

CURCULIONIDiE.

DD. Antennae with ten or eleven distinct segments, p. 594*

BRENTHIDiE.

CC. Pygidium of both sexes undivided.

D. Pygidium horizontal ; tibiae usually serrate, p. 596.

SCOLYTIDjE.

DD. Pygidium vertical or declivous; tibiae not serrate.

E. Antennae geniculate; labrum wanting; last spiracle cov¬
ered by ventral segments. p. 595- . CalandriDjE.

EE. Antennae straight; labrum distinct; last spiracle un¬
covered. p. 598 . .

Suborder COLEOPTERA GENUINA.

The Typical Coleoptera.

This suborder includes all the families of Coleoptera
except the snout-beetles, which are classed together as a
second suborder, the Rhynchophora.

Si6

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

In the Typical Coleoptera the mouth-parts are of the
ordinary type ; the head is not prolonged into a snout ; the
gula is present, there being two gular sutures, at least,
before and behind (Fig. 601, b ) ; and the epimera of the
prothorax are not prolonged so as to meet on the middle
line of the body behind the prosternum (Fig. 612).

Family Cicindelid^e (Cic-in-del'i-dae).

The Tiger-beetles .

The graceful forms and beautiful colors of the greater
number of the tiger-beetles have made this family one of
the favorites of students of Coleoptera. To this family
belong the most agile of all beetles ; and they are not
merely swift of foot, but are also able to fly well. They
are found on bright, hot days in dusty roads, in beaten
paths, and on the shores of streams. They remain abso¬
lutely still until we can see them well but are still out of
reach ; then like a flash they fly up and away, alighting
several rods ahead of us. Before alighting they always turn
so that they face us, and can thus watch our movements.

Their popular name is suggestive of their predaceous
habits, and of the spots with which many are marked.
They are usually a metallic green or bronze, banded or
spotted with yellow. Some are black ; and some that live
on white sand are grayish white, being exactly like the sand
in color.

A useful character for distinguishing the members of
this family is the fact that the terminal hook
of the maxilla (the digitus ) is united to this
organ by a movable joint (Fig. 618, h).

The sexes of the tiger-beetles can be dis¬
tinguished, except in Anibly child , by the sixth
abdominal segment of the males being notched
so as to expose a small seventh segment ; while
in the females only six segments are visible. In the

Fig. 618.

COLEOPTERA .

517

males also the first three segments of the anterior tarsi are
usually dilated and densely clothed with hair beneath.

It has been said that these beetles make burrows in
which to retire from the rain and cold. We have seen them
in September digging burrows in a hillside; these descended
slightly and were about five inches deep. The beetles kicked
the dirt out behind them as they dug, so that it lay in a
heap at the opening of the hole. But we were unable to
discover whether these burrows were made as dwellings, or,
what is more likely, places in which to deposit eggs. No
observation as to the egg-laying habits of these insects has
come to our notice.

The tiger-beetle larvae (Fig. 619) are as ugly and ungrace¬
ful as the adults are beautiful. The two have only one habit
in common — their eagerness for prey. The
larvae live in vertical burrows in sandy places
or in beaten paths. These burrows occur also
in ploughed fields that have become dry and
hard. They often extend a foot or more in
depth. The larva takes a position of watch¬
fulness at the mouth of its burrow. Its dirt-
colored head is bent at right angles to its Flc 6ig._ Larva
lighter-colored body and makes a neat plug to of Cictndela-
the opening of the hole. Its rapacious jaws extend upward,
wide open, ready to seize the first unwary insect that walks
over this living trap. On the fifth segment of the abdomen
there is a hump, and on this hump are two hooks curved
forward. This is an arrangement by which the little rascal
can hold back and keep from being jerked out of its hole
when it gets some large insect by the leg, and by which it
can drag its struggling prey down into its lair, where it may
eat it at leisure. It is interesting to thrust a straw down
into one of these burrows, and then dig it out with a trowel.
The chances are that you will find the indignant inhabitant
at the remote end of the burrow, chewing savagely at the
end of the intruding straw.

5*

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

Nearly all of our tiger-beetles belong to the genus Cicin -
dela (Cic-in-de'la), of which there are about sixty North

v American species; one of these is
r represented in Figure 620. We
have also two species of Tetracha
rv (Tet'ra-cha) ; see Figure 621. In
LX the Middle West is found Ainbly _
\ child cyl indr if or rn A ( A m -b 1 y- c h i ' 1 a

cy-lin-dri-for'mis), the giant of the

Fig. 620. fig. 621. family, measuring one and three

eighths inches in length ; and on
the Pacific coast occur nine species of Omits (O'mus). In
this genus the body is smaller and its thorax larger than
in Cicindela. These beetles search for their prey only at
night.

Family CARABlDyE (Ca-rab'i-dae).

The Ground-beetles.

The ground-beetles are so called because they are very
common on the surface of the ground, lurking under stones
or rubbish, or running through the grass. Our more com¬
mon species are easily recognized by their shining-black
color and long legs. On the Pacific coast, however, the
darkling beetles (Family Tenebrionidae), which are also
black and have long legs, abound under stones and frag¬
ments of wood on the ground. But the two families can be
easily distinguished by the fact that in the ground-beetles
all the tarsi are five-jointed, while in the darkling beetles the
hind tarsi are only four-jointed ; and the darkling beetles do
not run rapidly as do the ground-beetles.

With the ground-beetles the antennae are thread-like,
tapering gradually towards the tip, and each segment is of
nearly uniform thickness throughout its length ; the legs are
fitted for running, and the antennae are inserted between the
base of the mandibles and the eyes. Although most of the
species are black, there are those that are blue, green, or
brown, and a few that are spotted. The wing-covers are

COLEOPTERA . 5 19

almost always ornamented with longitudinal ridges and
rows of punctures.

Most members of this family are predaceous, feeding
upon other insects, which they spring upon or capture by
chase. A few species use vegetable food ; but their depre¬
dations are rarely of economic importance. As there are
more than eleven hundred described North American
species, and as many of the species are very common, this
family may be considered the most important family of
predaceous insects.

The larvae of ground-beetles are generally long, with the
body of nearly equal breadth throughout (Fig. 622.) They
have sharp projecting mandibles ; and the
caudal end of the body is usually fur¬
nished with a pair of conical bristly ap¬
pendages. They live in the same obscure situations as the
adult insects, but are more shy, and are consequently less
frequently seen. Like the adults, they are predaceous.

Among the more common ground-beetles are the fol¬
lowing : —

The Searcher, Calosoma scrutator (Cal-o-so'ma scru-ta'-
tor). — This is one of the larger and more beautiful of our

ground-beetles ; it has green or
violet wing-covers margined
with reddish, and the rest of the
body is marked with violet-blue,
gold, green, and copper (Fig.
623). This beetle and the follow¬
ing have been known to climb
trees in search of caterpillars.

The Fiery Hunter, Calosoma
calidum (C. cal'i-dum), is some¬
what smaller than the preced¬
ing, and is easily recognized by
the rows of reddish or copper-
colored pits on the wing-covers (Fig. 624).

Fig. 622.

520

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

There are certain other large, swiftly running ground-
beetles which resemble somewhat those just described.
These belong to the genus Cy chrus (Cy'chrus), and may
be recognized by the long, narrow head, the wider or
more nearly circular wing-covers, and
by the fact that the wing-covers have
a veiy broad, reflected margin, which
covers a large part of the sides of the
thorax.

The bombardier-beetles, Brachinus
(Bra-chi'nus). — There are many species
of beetles that have at the hind end of
Fig. c24. the body little sacs in which is secreted a

bad-smelling fluid, which is used as a means of defence.
These beetles spurt this fluid out on to their enemies when
attacked. But in the case of the bombardier-beetles this
fluid changes to a gas, which looks like smoke as soon as
it comes in contact with the air, and is ejected with a sound
like that of a tiny pop-gun. When some larger insect tries
to capture one of these insect-soldiers, and gets very near it,
the latter fires its little gun into the face of its enemy. The
noise astonishes the pursuer, and the smoke blinds him.
By the time he has recovered from his amazement, the little
bombardier is at a safe distance. These beetles have quite
a store of ammunition ; for we have often had one pop at
us four or five times in succession, while we were taking it
prisoner. The bombardier-beetles belong to the genus
Brachinus , of which we have in this country about twenty-
five species. They are very similar in appearance ; the
head, prothorax, and legs are reddish yellow,
and the wing-covers are dark blue, blackish, or
greenish blue (Fig. 625).

There is a common beetle that resembles
the bombardier-beetles quite closely in size and
color, but which may be distinguished by the
comb-like form of the tarsal claws; this is Lebia grandis

COLEOPTERA.

521

(Le'bi-a gran'dis) (Fig. 626). It has been reported more
often than any other insect as destroying the Colorado
Potato-beetle.

Galerita janus (Gal-e-ri'ta ja'nus) is still another species
that bears some resemblance to the bom¬
bardier-beetles. But it is much larger,
measuring two thirds of an inch in length,
and has only the prothorax and legs red¬
dish yellow, the head being black ; the
prothorax is only about half as wide as
the wing-covers.

What is perhaps the most common
type of ground-beetle is illustrated by
Har pains caliginosus (Har'pa-lus ca-lig-i-
no'sus), which is represented natural size
by Figure 627. It is of a pitchy black
color, and is one of the most common V\G.t^.—Lebia grandis,

* natural size and en-

of our larger species. There are nearly larged,
fifty other species of this genus in this country. Most
of them are smaller than this one, are flattened, and have
the prothorax nearly square.

The beetles of the genus Diccelns (Di-cae-
lus) are quite common ; and some of the larger
species resemble Harpalus caliginosus quite
closely. They can be distinguished by a prom¬
inent keel-shaped ridge which extends back
upon each wing-cover from near the corner of

Fig. 627. the prothorax.

The most common of all ground-beetles, in the North¬
eastern States at least, is Pterosticus lucublandus
(Pte-ros'ti-cus lu-cu-blan'dus). In this species (Fig.

628) the narrow, flat margin on each side of
the prothorax is widened near the hinder angle
of this segment.

Fig. 628.

The family Amphizoid^e (Am phi-zo'i dm) is represent-

522

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

ed in our fauna by two species of Amphizoa (Am-phi-zo'a),
which occur in Northern California, Utah, and Vancouver,
clinging to logs or stones under the surface of streams.
In these beetles the metasternum is truncate behind, not
reaching the abdomen, and has a very short antecoxal
piece.

Family Haliplidas (Ha-lip'li-dae).

The Haliplids {Hal' i-p lids).

This family includes a few species of small aquatic beetles,
which are oval, more or less pointed at each end, and very
convex. The wing-covers have rows of punctures, and the
hind coxae are greatly expanded so as to conceal the
basal half of the hind femora and from three to six of the
abdominal segments.

These beetles are not uncommon in ponds and streams,
but they swim poorly. Only three genera occur in this
country. In Brychius (Brych'i-us), which is represented by
one species from California, the prothorax is quadrate ; in
the other genera it is narrowed in front. In Haliplus (Hal'-
i-plus) the last segment of the palpi is small and awl-shaped ;
in Cnemidotus (Cnem-i-do'tus) it is longer than the’ third seg¬
ment, and conical.

The larvae are aquatic, occurring near the shores of
ponds and streams and in other damp places. The body is
rather slender ; each segment except the head is
furnished on the back with fleshy lobes with spiny
tips, which vary greatly in size in different species ;
and the last segment bears a long tapering appen¬
dage. Figure 629 represents a larva of this family,
which we found in large numbers in a pond swarm¬
ing with Cnemidotus ; it probably belongs to this
genus. The ia* /ae of several species of Haliplus

629. are figured by Schiotde, but in each of these the
caudal appendage is forked.

COLEOPTERA.

523

Family DYTlSCiDvE (Dy-tis'ci-dae).

The Predaceous Diving-beetles

If one will approach quietly a pool of standing water,
there may be seen oval, flattened beetles hanging head
downward, with the tip of the abdomen at the surface of
the water. Such beetles belong to this family.

The predaceous diving- beetles are usually brownish
black and shining, but are often marked indefinitely with
dull yellow. They can be distinguished from the water
scavenger-beetles, which they resemble in general appear¬
ance, by the thread-like form of the antennae. The hind
legs are the longest, and are fitted for swimming, being flat¬
tened, and fringed with hair. The middle and the hind pairs
of legs are widely separated. This is due to the very large
hind coxae which cover the greater part of the lower surface
of the thorax. In the males of certain
genera the first three segments of the fore
tarsi are dilated and form a circular disk*
upon the under side of which are little
cup- like suckers (Fig. 630). In a few
cases the middle tarsi are dilated also.

The females of some species exhibit an
interesting dimorphism in that some of the individuals have
the elytra furnished with a number of deep furrows (Fig.

631), while others of the same species have them
smooth.

The diving- beetles abound in our streams
and ponds, but they are more often found in
standing water than in streams. When at rest
they float in an inclined position, head down-
Fic. 631. Ward, with the tip of the hind end of the body
projecting from the water. The spiracles open on the
dorsal side of the abdomen beneath the elytra. By lifting
the elytra slightly a reservoir is formed for air, which the
beetle can breathe as it swims through the water. When

524

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

the air becomes impure the beetle rises to the surface,
forces it out, and takes a fresh supply.

These beetles are very voracious. They destroy not
only other insects, but some of them will attack larger ani¬
mals, as small fish. When kept in aquaria they can be fed
upon any kind of meat, raw or cooked. They fly from pond
to pond, and are often attracted to lights at night. Many
of the species make sounds, both under the water and in
the air. In some cases this is done by rubbing the abdom¬
inal segments upon the elytra; in others, by rubbing the
hind legs upon a rough spot on the lower side of the
abdomen.

The females deposit their eggs at random in the water.
The larvae are known as water-tigers, because of their blood¬
thirstiness. They are elongated, spindle-form grubs (Fig.
632). The head is large, oval or rounded, and flattened ;

Fic. 632.

the mandibles are large, sickle-shaped, and hollow, with a
slit-like opening near the tip ; they are admirably fitted for
holding the prey, and at the same time sucking the juices
from its body, the hollow of the mandibles communicating
with the oesophagus. The true mouth is quite small. The
thorax is furnished with six well-developed legs. With
many of these larvae the body ends in a pair of breathing-
tubes, which they protrude into the air at intervals.

When a larva is fully grown it leaves the water, burrows
into the ground, and makes a round cell, within which it
undergoes its transformations. The pupa state lasts about
three weeks in summer; but the larvae that transform in
autumn remain in the pupa state all winter.

This is the largest of the families of water - beetles ;
nearly three hundred North American species are known.

COLEOPTERA .

525

The best way to obtain specimens is to sweep the vege¬
tation growing on the bottom of a quiet pool with a dip-
net.

The larger of our common species belong to Cybister
(Cy-bis'ter), Dytiscus (Dy-tis'cus), and al¬
lied genera. In Cybister the little cups
on the under side of the tarsal disks of
the male are similar, and arranged in four
rows. In Dytiscus and its allies the cups
of the tarsal disks vary in size. Figure
633 represents a common species of Dy-
tiscus.

The most common of the diving-beetles that are of
medium size belong to the genus Acilius (A-cil'i-us). In
this genus the elytra are densely punctured with very fine
punctures, and the females usually have four furrows in
each wing-cover (Fig. 631).

There are also common diving-beetles that are of about
the same size as the preceding, but which have the wing-
covers marked with numerous very fine transverse stri.ne;
these belong to the genus Colymbetes (Col-ym-be'tes).

Of the smaller diving-beetles, measuring less than one
fourth of an inch in length, many species can be found in
almost any pond. These represent many genera.

Family GYRINID/E (Gy-rin'i-dae).

The Whirligig-beetles .

As familiar to the country rover as the gurgling of the
brook, or the flecks of foam on its “ golden-braided centre,”
or the trailing ferns and the rustling rushes on its banks,
are these whirligigs on its pools. Around and around each
other they dart, tracing graceful curves on the water, which
vanish almost as soon as made. They are social fellows,
and are almost always found in large numbers, either swim¬
ming or resting motionless near together. They rarely dive,
except when pursued ; but are so agile that it is extremely

Fig. 633.

520

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

difficult to catch them without a net. Many of them when
caught exhale a milky fluid having a very disagreeable odor.
They feed upon small flies, beetles, and other insects that
fall into the water, and are furnished with well-developed
wings, with which they fly from one body of water to an¬
other.

This is one of the most easily-recognized families of the
whole order Coleoptera. The members of it are oval or
elliptical in form (Fig. 634), more or less flattened,
and usually of a very brilliant, bluish-black color
above, with a bronze metallic lustre. The fore
legs are very long and rather slender; the middle
Fig. 634. and hind legs are short, broad, and very much flat¬
tened. These insects are remarkable for having the eyes
completely divided by the margin of the head, so that they
appear to have four eyes — a pair upon the upper surface
of the head with which to look into the air, and a pair upon
the under side for looking into the water. The antennae
are very short and peculiar in form. The third segment is
enlarged, so as to resemble an ear-like appendage, and the
following ones form a short, spindle-shaped mass. They
are inserted in little cavities in front of the eyes.

The eggs of these insects are small, of cylindrical form,
and are placed end to end in parallel rows upon the
leaves of aquatic plants. The larvae (Fig. 635) are
long, narrow, and much flattened. Each abdominal
segment is furnished with a pair of tracheal gills,
and there is an additional pair at the caudal end of
the body. The elongated form of the body and the
conspicuous tracheal gills cause these larvae to re¬
semble small centipedes. When a larva is full
grown it leaves the water and spins a gray, paper¬
like cocoon attached to some object near the water.

The pupa state of the species in which it has been
observed lasts about a month.

The family is a small one. At present only thirty-six

COLEOPTERA .

527

North American species are known. These represent three
genera. The genus Gyretus (Gyr'e-tus) is distinguished by
having the last ventral segment of the abdomen elongated
and conical. It is represented by a single species, G. sinuatus
(G. sin-u-a'tus). In the other two genera the last ventral
segment is flattened and rounded at the tip. In Dineutus
(Di-neu'tus) the scutellum is wanting; there are eight spe¬
cies of this genus. In Gyrimis (Gy-ri'nus) the scutellum is
visible ; of this genus we have twenty-seven species.

Family HYDROPHILID^ (Hyd-ro-phil'i-da?).

The Water-scavenger Beetles.

The water-scavenger beetles are common in quiet pools,
where they may be found swimming through the water, or
crawling among the plants growing on the bottom. They
can be easily taken by sweeping such plants with a dip-net.

They are elongated, elliptical, black beetles, resembling
the predaceous diving beetles in appearance ; but they are
usually more convex, and differ also in having club-shaped
antennae and very long palpi. As the antenna? are usually
concealed beneath the head, it often happens that the inex¬
perienced student mistakes the long palpi for antennae.

These beetles are supposed to live chiefly upon decaying
vegetation in the water; but a number of species have been
known to catch and eat living insects. They breathe by car¬
rying a film of air on the lower surface of the body. This
film gives them a silvery appearance when seen from below.
They obtain the air by bringing the head to
the surface of the water and projecting the
antennae, which they again fold back with a
bubble of air when they descend. The female
makes a case for her eggs out of a hardened
silk-like secretion. Some species deposit as
many as a hundred eggs in one of these water¬
proof packages (Fig. 636). The egg-cases in
some instances are fastened beneath the leaves of aquatic

528

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

plants ; in others they are provided with floats and let loose
in the water ; and in still other species the cases are carried
by the mother underneath her body and steadied with her
hind legs. Frequently some of the young larvae devour
their companions ; in this way the size of the family is de¬
creased before it escapes from the egg-case. Later they
live upon insects that fall into the water and upon snails.

These larvae resemble somewhat those of the Dytiscidae ;
but the body is much more plump, and the mandibles are of
moderate size. A very interesting observation on the mode
of feeding of one of these larvae has been published. It cap¬
tured a fly, and swam with it rapidly through the water to a
leaf near the surface. It then rested on this leaf, and, rais¬
ing its head out of the water, crushed the fly to pulp with its
jaws, letting the blood run into its open mouth.

The Hydrophilidae are represented in North America by
about one hundred and fifty species. Our three largest be¬
long to the genus Hydrophilus (Hy-droph'i-lus). In this
genus the metasternum is prolonged backward into a spine

between the hind legs, and the ster¬
num of the prothorax bears a deep
furrow. Our most common species is
Hydrophilus triangularis (H. tri-an-gu-
la'ris) (Fig. 637).

The beetles of the genus Tropister-
nus (Trop-i-ster'nus) agree with Hy -
drophilus in the form of the proster¬
num and metasternum, but differ in
size, our species measuring less than
one-half inch in length. The most
common species in the East is Tropi -
sternus glaber (T. gla'ber), and, on the
Pacific coast, T. calif ornicus .

Next in size to Hydrophilus are several species of Hy -
drocharis (Hy-droch'a-ris). In this genus the metasternum
is prolonged somewhat, but does not form a long, sharp

COLE OP TER A.

529

spine as in Hydrophilus and Tropisternus , and the sternum
of the prothorax bears a keel-shaped projection. Our most
common species is Hydrocharis obtusatus (H. ob-tu-sa^us);
this measures about five eighths of an inch in length.

Some of the smaller species of this family are not aquatic,
but live in moist earth and in the dung of cattle, where, it
is said, they feed on dipterous larvae.

Family PLATYPSYLLlD^E (Plat-y-psyl'i-dae).

The Beaver-parasite .

Only a single representative of this family is known ;
this is Platypsylla cast oris (Plat-y-psyl'la cas'to-ris), which
lives parasitically on the beaver. This beetle is about one
tenth of an inch in length ; the body is ovate, elongate, and
much flattened ; the wing-covers are short, about as long as
the prothorax, and leave five abdominal segments exposed ;
the eyes and wings are wanting.

Specimens of this remarkable insect are most easily
obtained by beating over a sheet of paper the dried skins of
beavers, which can be found at fur-stores.

The family LEPTINIDiE (Lep-tin'i-daej is represented by
only two species in North America. One of these is from
the Hudson Bay region ; the other, Leptinus testaceus (Lep-
ti'nus tes ta'ce-us) lives with various small rodents and inseo
tivora, either on their bodies or in the material of their nests.
It can be distinguished by the characters given in the table
of families.

Family SlLPPIID,E (Sil'phi-dae).

The Carrion-beetles .

The carrion-beetles are mostly of medium or large size,
many species attaining the length of one and one half inches,
while the smaller species of the more typical genera are
nearly half an inch in length ; some members of the family,
however, are minute. The segments near the tip of the an.-
35

530

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

tennae are usually enlarged so as to form a compact club,
which is neither comb-like nor composed of thin movable
plates; sometimes the antennae are nearly filiform.

These insects usually feed upon decaying animal matter ;
some, however, feed upon fungi, and a few species have
been known to be predaceous when pressed by hunger,
destroying living snails and insects — even members of their
own species.

It is easy to obtain specimens of these insects by placing
pieces of meat or small dead animals in the fields and exam¬
ining them daily. There are several other families of
beetles the members of which can be attracted in this way.

The larvae also live upon decaying flesh and are found in
the same situations as the adults.

We have in this country more than one hundred species
of this family. Our larger and more familiar species repre¬
sent two genera, Necrophorus (Nec-roph'o-rus) and Silp/ia
(Sil'pha).

The Buryi ng-beetles, Necrophorus . — To this genus belong
the largest members of the family. The body is very stout,
almost cylindrical (Fig. 638). Our com¬
mon species have a reddish spot on
each end of each wing-cover ; these
spots are often so large that they ap¬
pear as two transverse bands. In some
species the prothorax and the head are
also marked with red.

These insects are called burying-
beetles because they bury carrion.
When a pair of these beetles discover a
dead bird, mouse, or other small ani¬
mal, they dig beneath it, removing the
earth so as to allow the carrion to settle
into the ground. This they will continue until the object
is below the surface of the ground. Then they cover it
with earth, and finally the female digs down to it and lays

COLEOPTERA .

531

her eggs upon it. The larvae that hatch from these eggs
feed upon the food thus provided for them. There are
many accounts of exhibitions of remarkable strength and
sagacity by burying-beetles. A pair of these insects have
been known to roll a large dead rat several feet in order to
get it upon a suitable spot for burying.

The members of the genus Silpha are very much flat
tened (Fig. 639). The prothorax is round in
outline, with very thin edges which overlap the
wing-covers somewhat. The body is not nearly
as stout as that of a burying-beetle, being fitted
for creeping under dead animals instead of for
performing deeds requiring great strength.

In some of the minute members of the family the body
is nearly hemispherical.

The family SCYDMyENiDiE (Scyd-maen'i-dae) includes
very small insects found under bark or stones, in ants’ nests,
or near water. They are small, shining, usually ovate, but
sometimes slender insects, of a brown color, and more or
less clothed with erect hairs. Other characters are given in
the preceding table of families. Nearly fifty North American
species are known.

The family PsELAPHlD^E (Pse-laph'i-dae) includes certain
very small beetles, the larger ones not exceeding one eighth
inch in length. They resemble rove-beetles in the shortness
of the wing-covers and in having the dorsal part of the
abdominal segments entirely horny; but they differ from
them in that the abdomen is not flexible, and in having
fewer abdominal segments, there being only five or six on
the ventral side. The species are of a chestnut-brown color
and usually slightly pubescent. The elytra and abdomen
arc convex and usually wider than the head and prothorax.
These beetles are found under stones and bark, or in ants-
nests, or flying in the twilight. Nearly one hundred and
fifty species are known from North America.

Fig. 639.

532

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Fig. 640.

Family STAPHYLINID^: (Staph-y-lin'i-dae).

The Rove-beetles.

The rove-beetles are very common about decaying ani¬
mal matter, and are often found upon the ground, under
stones or other objects. They are mostly very small insects;
a few species, however, are of larger size, measuring a half
inch or more in length. Their appearance is very charac¬
teristic, the body being long and slender, and the wing-
covers very short (Fig. 640). The wings, however,
are fully developed, often exceeding the abdomen
in length ; when not in use the wings are folded
beneath the short wing-covers. The abdominal
segments are freely movable, and arc seven or eight
in number.

It is interesting to watch one of these insects
fold its wings; frequently they find it necessary
to make use of the tip of the abdomen or of one of the legs
in order to get the wings folded beneath the wing-covers.

The rove-beetles can run quite swiftly; and they have
the curious habit, when disturbed, of raising the tip of the
abdomen in a threatening manner, as if they could sting.
As some of the larger species resemble wasps somewhat in
the form of the body, these threatening motions are often
as effective as if the creature really had a sting.

As these insects feed upon decaying animal and vegetable
matter, they should be classed as beneficial. The larvae re¬
semble the adults in the form of the body and are found in
similar situations.

About one thousand North American species of rove-
beetles have been described. The great majority of them
are small and exceedingly difficult to determine, Among
the large species that are common are the following : —

Creophilus villosus (Cre-oph'i-lus vil-lo'sus). — This species
varies from one-half inch to nearly an inch in length. It is
of a shining black color, spotted with patches of fine gray

COLEOPTERA.

533

hairs. There is a conspicuous band of these across the
middle of the wing-covers, and another on the second and
third abdominal segments; this abdominal band is best
marked on the lower side of the body.

Stapliylinus maculosiis (Staph-y-li'nus mac-u-lo'sus) is a
larger species, which often measures fully an inch in length.
It is densely punctured, and of a dull-brown color, with the
scutellum black, and a row of obscure, square, blackish spots
along the middle of the abdomen.

Stapliylinus vulpinus (S. vul-pi'nus) resembles the pre¬
ceding somewhat, but it has a pair of bright-yellow spots at
the base of each abdominal segment.

Leistotrophns cingulatus (Leis-tot'ro-phus cin-gu-ia'tus) is
of about the same size as the preceding. It is brown,
speckled with brownish-black spots, and the tip of its
abdomen is clothed with golden hairs.

The family TlUCHOPTERYGlD^E (Tri-chop-te-ryg'i-dae), or
the Feather-wing Beetles , includes the smallest beetles that
are known ; most of our species are less than one twenty-
fifth of an inch in length, and in many cases they are not
half that size. The most striking feature of the typical
forms is the shape of the wings, which are long, narrow, and
fringed with long hairs, being feather-like in appearance ;
but in some species the wings are wanting. Some species
live in rotten wood, muck, manure, and other decaying
organic matter; a few have been found in ants’ nests.

The family HYDROSCAPHID^E (Hyd-ro-scaph'i-da^) is rep¬
resented in America by a single, minute, aquatic species
from California. See table of families for its characteristics.

The family SniJERUDM (Sphae-ri'i-dae) is also repre¬
sented on this continent by a single Californian species. It
lives in mud or under stones near water. Its distinguishing
features are given in the table of families.

The family SCAPHIDIID^E (Scaph-i-di'i-dse) includes less
than twenty known North American species. They are

534

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

small, oval, very shining insects, found in fungi and rotten
wood. The elytra are broadly truncate behind, not covering
the entire abdomen.

The family P HALACRID^E (Pha-lac'ri-dae) includes a small
number of very small, convex, shining black beetles, which
are sometimes two-spotted or tipped with red. They are
found on flowers and sometimes under bark.

The family CORYLOPHIMS (Cor-y-loph'i-dae) includes
minute beetles found under damp bark and in decaying
vegetable matter. The body is oval or rounded, and in
many species is clothed with a grayish pubescence. The
wings are wide, and fringed with long hairs. About twenty-
five North American species are known.

Family CocciNELLlDiE (Coc-ci-nel'li-dae).

The Lady-bugs .

These insects are well known to nearly every child under
the popular name given above. They are more or less
nearly hemispherical, generally red or yellow, with black
spots, or black, with white, red, or yellow spots.

The larvae occur running about on foliage ; they are
often spotted with bright colors and clothed with
warts or with spines (Fig. 641). When ready to
change to a pupa the larva fastens itself by its tail
to any convenient object, and the skin splits open
f»g. 641. on the back. Sometimes the pupa state is passed
within this split skin, and sometimes the skin is forced
back and remains in a little wad about the tail (Fig.

642).

With very few exceptions, the lady-bugs are pre- Fig. 642.
daceous, both in the larval and adult states. They feed
upon small insects and upon the eggs of larger species.
The larvae of certain species are known as “niggers” by
hop-growers, and are greatly prized by them ; for they are
very destructive to the hop-louse. On the Pacific coast the
lady-bugs are well known as the most beneficial of all insects

COLEOPTERA.

535

to the fruit-growers. Nothing more wonderful has been
accomplished in economic entomology than the subduing in
California of the cottony-cushion scale by the introduction
from Australia of a lady-bug, Vedalia (Ve-da'li-a), which
feeds upon it.

Next in importance to the Vedalia on the Pacific coast
are the twice-stabbed lady-bugs. Several species that occur
on both sides of the continent are included under this popu¬
lar name. They are black, with a bright-yellow or reddish
spot on each wing-cover. They are especially prized in
California as they feed on the pernicious scale, the black
scale, and other destructive species.

A very common lady-bug in the East is Adaliabipunctata
(A-da'li-a bi-punc-ta'ta). This species is figured on Plate I,
Figure 3. It is reddish yellow above, with the middle of the
prothorax black, and with a black spot on each wing-cover.
It frequently passes the winter in our dwellings, and is found
on the walls and windows in early spring. Under such
circumstances it is often mistaken for the carpet-beetle and,
unfortunately, destroyed.

The Nine-spotted Lady-bug, Coccinella novemnotata
(Coc-ci-nel'la no-vem-no-ta'ta) has yellowish wing-
covers, with four black spots on each, in addition
to a common spot just back of the scutellum
(Fig. 643).

The Herbivorous Lady-bug, Epilachna borealis (Ep-i-
lach'na bor-e-a'lis), presents a remarkable exception in habits
to what is the rule in this family. The larva of this species
is herbivorous, feeding on the leaves of squash, pumpkin, and
allied plants. It is yellow and is clothed with forked spines
(Fig. 644). A pupa is shown in the figure near the upper
right-hand corner. The adult is yellowish, with large black
spots.

The family ENDOMYCHID^: (En-do-mych'i-dae) includes
a small number of species which are found chiefly in fungi.
The body is usually more elongate than in the preceding

Fig. 643.

536

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS .

family; the antennae are about half as long as the body;
the prothorax is nearly square, and usually has a wide, thin
margin, which is slightly turned upwards at the sides.

Fig. 644.

Family Erotylid^e (Er-o-tyl'i-dae).

The Eroty/ids ( Er-ot'y-lids ).

The members of this family are usually of moderate or
small size; but some species are quite large, measuring three
fourths inch or more in length. Some of our more common
species are conspicuously marked with shining black and red.

To the genus Megalodachne (Meg-a-lo-dach'ne) belong
two common, large species, which are black,
with two dull-red bands extending across the
wing-covers. M. keros (M.he'ros) (Fig. 645) is
two thirds of an inch or more in length. M \
fasciata (M. fas-ci-a'ta) is about half an inch
long.

The genus Languria (Lan-gu'ri-a) includes
long, narrow species, which resemble click-beetles in form.

Fig. 645.

COLEOPTERA.

53 7

Figure 646 represents L. mozardi (L. mo-zar'di) greatly
enlarged. This is a reddish species with dark-blue wing-

Fig. 646.

covers ; the larva bores in the stalks of clover.

The family COLYDIID^E (Col-y-di'i-dae) is composed of
small insects which are usually of an elongate or cylindrical
form, and are found under bark, in fungi, and in earth.
Some of the species are known to be carnivorous, feeding
on the larvae of wood-boring beetles. The tarsi are four-
jointed ; the tibiae are not fitted for digging, and the first
four abdominal segments are grown together on the ventral
side. More than fifty North American species are known.

The family Ri-IYSSODID/E (Rhys-sod'i-dae) includes only
four species, two from each side of the continent. They
are elongate, somewhat flattened beetles, with the head and
prothorax deeply furrowed with longitudinal grooves. They
are found under bark.

Family CUCUJID^: (Cu-cu'ji-dae).
The Cucujids {Cu* cn-j ids).

The insects of this family are very flat and usually of
an elongate form; most of the species are brown, but some
are of a bright red color. As a rule they are found under
bark and are believed to be carnivorous both in the larval
and adult states ; but some feed in grain.

538

THE STUDY OF INSECTS, .

The most conspicuous of our common species is Cucujus
clavipes (Cu'cu-jus clav'i-pes) (Fig. 647). This insect is
v j about one half inch in length and of a bright red
color, with the eyes and antennae black and the
tibiae and tarsi dark.

The most important member of this family is
Fig. 647. the Corn Silvanus, Silvanus surinamensis (Sil-va'-
nus sur-i-na-men'sis), which is one of the small beetles that
infest stored grain. This species is readily distinguished
from other small beetles with similar habits by its flattened
form and the saw-like edges of the prothorax. Besides
grain it often infests dried fruits and other stores. It meas¬
ures from one tenth to one eighth of an inch in length.

The family CRYPTOPHAGlDiE (Cryp-to-phag'i-dae) in¬
cludes insects of small size, usually less than one tenth of an
inch in length, and of variable form, but never very flat.
The thorax is nearly or quite as wide as the wing-covers
and the first ventral abdominal segment is somewhat longer
than the others. They are generally of a light yellowish-
brown color, and live on fungi and decomposing vegetable
matter.

The family MYCETOPHAGID.E (My-cet-o-phag'i-dae) is
composed of small, oval, rarely elongate, moderately convex
beetles. They are densely punctured and hairy, and are
usually prettily marked insects. They live on fungi and
under bark.

4

Family DERMESTlDiE (Der-mes'ti-dae).

The Dermestids ( Der-mes'tids ).

There are several families of small beetles that feed on
decaying matter, or on skins, furs, and dried animal sub¬
stances. The most important of these is. the Dermestidae,
as several species belonging to this family destroy house¬
hold stores or goods.

The Dermestids can be distinguished from most of the

COLEOPTERA.

539

other beetles with similar habits by the fact that the wing-
covers completely cover the abdomen. They are chiefly
small beetles, although one of the common species measures
one third inch in length. They are usually oval, plump
beetles, with pale gray or brown markings, which are formed
by minute scales, which can be rubbed off. These beetles
have the habit of pretending that they are dead when they
are disturbed ; they will roll over on their backs with their
legs meekly folded and lie still for a long period.

The larvce do much more damage than the adults. They
are active, and are clothed with long hairs. These hairs are
covered throughout their entire length with microscopic
barbs.

The Larder Beetle, Dermestes lardarius (Der-mes'tes
lar-da'ri-us). — This pest of the larder is the most common of
the larger members of this family. It is three tenths of an
inch long, and black except the basal half of its wing-covers,
which are pale buff or brownish yellow. This lighter portion
is usually crossed by a band of black spots, three on each
wing-cover (Fig. 648). The larva feeds on dead animal
matter, as meat, skins, feathers and cheese. It is y (
often a serious pest where bacon or ham are stored,

When full grown it is about half an inch in length,
dark brown above, whitish below, and rather thickly Fig. 648.
covered with long, brown hairs. It is said that this insect
can be attracted by baits of old cheese, from which they
may be gathered and destroyed.

The Carpet Beetle, Anthrenus scrophularice (An-thre'nus
scroph-u-la'ri-ae). — During recent years this insect has be¬
come the worst of household pests, feeding in its larval state
on carpets, woollens, furs, and feathers. The larva is well-
known to many housekeepers as the Buffalo-moth. It is a
short, fat grub, about one fifth of an inch in length when
full grown, and densely clothed with dark brown hairs. It
lives in the cracks of floors, near the edges of rooms, and be¬
neath furniture, where it eats holes in the carpet. It also

540

THE STUDY OF INSECTS. .

enters wardrobes and destroys clothing. The adult is a
pretty little beetle which may be found in infested houses,
in the spring, on the ceilings and windows. It is about one
seventh of an inch in length and clothed with black, white,
and brick-red scales (Plate I, Fig. i). There is a whitish
spot on each side of the prothorax, and three irregular,
whitish spots on the outer margin of each wing-cover ; along
the suture where the two wing-covers meet there is a band
of brick-red scales, which is widened in several places. It is
worth while to learn to know this beetle ; for a Lady-bug
(Plate I, Fig. 3), which often winters in our houses, is fre¬
quently mistaken for it. The Carpet Beetle in its adult
state feeds on the pollen of flowers. Sometimes it abounds
on the blossoms of currant, cherry, and other fruits. The
best way to avoid the ravages of this pest is to use rugs in¬
stead of carpets, and to trap the larvae by placing woollen
cloths on the floors of closets. By shaking such cloths
over a paper once a week the larvae can be captured.

The change from carpets to rugs is a very desirable one-,
for carpets that are tacked to the floor and taken up only
once or twice a year are unwholesome. The change need
not be a very expensive one. As carpets wear out they
may be replaced with rugs ; and good carpets can be made
over into rugs. If the floors are not polished as is usually
the case where it was planned to cover them with carpets,
they can be made presentable by filling the cracks with
putty and painting the boards where they are to be exposed.

The museum pests, Antkrenus varius (An-thre'nus va'-
ri-us) and Antkrenus museorum (A. mu-se-o'rum). — There
are two minute species of this family that are a constant
source of annoyance to those having collections of insects.

The adult beetles measure less than one eighth of an inch
in length, and are very convex. They deposit their eggs on
specimens in our collections ; and the larvae feed upon the
specimens, often destroying them. In order to preserve a
collection of insects it is necessary that they should be kept

COLEOPTERA.

541

in tight cases, so that these pests cannot gain access to them.
Specimens should not be left exposed except when in use.
And the entire collection should be carefully examined at
least once a month. The injury is done by the larvae,
which are small, plump, hairy grubs. Their presence is in¬
dicated by a fine dust that falls on to the bottom of
the case from the infested specimens. These larvae
can be destroyed by pouring a small quantity of car¬
bon bisulphide into the case, and keeping it tightly
closed for a day or two. Benzine poured on a bit of cotton
in the box will cause the pests to leave the specimens, when
they may be taken from the box and destroyed. But we
have found carbon bisulphide the better agent for the de¬
struction of these pests.

The Raspberry Fruit-worm, By turns unicolor (By-tu'rus
u-ni-co'lor). — The fruit of the red raspberry is often infested
by a small white worm, which clings to the inside of the
berry after it is picked. This is the larva of an oval, pale,
dull yellow beetle, which is densely clothed with
short, fine, gray hairs. The beetle is represented
enlarged in Figure 649 ; it measures about three
twentieths of an inch in length. This insect is also
injurious in the adult state, as it feeds on the bios- FlG,649‘
soms of the raspberry.

The family HlSTERlD^E (His-ter'i-dae) includes certain
easily recognized beetles which are found about carrion and
other decomposing substances. They are mostly small,
short, rounded, or somewhat square-shaped beetles, of a
shining black color, with the-wing covers marked by lines
of fine punctures and truncate behind, leaving twro
segments of the abdomen exposed (Fig. 650). In
some species the wing-covers are marked with red.
Fig. 650. The family NlTlDULlD/E (Nit-i-du'li-dae) com¬
prises small, somewhat flattened beetles. With many spe¬
cies the prothorax has wide, thin margins, and the wing-
covers are more or less truncate, so as to leave the tip of the

542

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS .

Fig. 651.

abdomen exposed ; but sometimes the elytra are entire.
The tarsi are usually five-jointed, with the fourth segment
very small ; they are more or less dilated ; the posterior
coxae are flat, not sulcate ; the anterior coxae are transverse ;
and the abdomen has five free, ventral segments.

One of the most common representatives of
this family is Ips fasciatus (Ips fas-ci-a'tus). (Fig.
651.) It is a shining black species, with two con¬
spicuous, interrupted, reddish bands across the
wing-covers.

The family Tr0G0SITID,E (Trog-o-sit'i-dae) includes ob¬
long, somewhat flattened beetles, of a black or reddish-black
color. Most of them live under bark; but some are found
in granaries. They differ from members of the preceding
family in having slender tarsi, with the first segment very
short.

The family MoNOTOMiDiE (Mon-o-tom'i-dse) is composed
of a few small, depressed beetles, found mostly under the
bark of trees. The wing-covers are truncate behind, leaving
the last abdominal segment exposed.

The family LATHRIDIID/E (Lath-ri-di'i-dse) includes very
small beetles, which live under bark and stones and are
sometimes caught flying in twilight. They are oblong ; the
wing-covers are usually wider than the prothorax and
entirely cover the abdomen.

The family DERODONTIDiE (Der-o-don'ti-dae) is repre¬
sented by a single species found in the East and two found
in Oregon and northward. The eastern species is a small
brown beetle with a tubercle on each side inside the eye.

The family Byrriiid/E (Byr'rhi-dae) or the pill-beetles are
short, very convex beetles of small or moderate size ; some,
however, are half an inch in length. The body is clothed
with hairs or minute scales. The legs can be folded up very
compactly, the tibia usually having a furrow for the recep¬
tion of the tarsus. These beetles are found upon walks and

COLEOPTERA .

543

at the roots of trees and grass ; a few live under the bark of
trees.

The family GEORYSSID^ (Ge-o-rys'si-dae) includes only
two American species. “ They are small, rounded, convex,
roughly sculptured, black insects, found at the ijiargin of
streams, on wet sand ; they cover themselves with a mass of
mud, so that no part of the insect is visible.” (LeConte and
Horn.)

The family PARNID^E (Par'ni-dae) includes small water
beetles, in which the legs are not fitted for swimming. The
tarsi are five-jointed ; the first four segments of the tarsi are
short and equal; the fifth is longer than the others con¬
joined ; the tarsal claws are unusually large. The body is
clothed with fine, silken hairs, which retain a film of air when
the insect is beneath the water. These beetles are found
adhering to stones or plants beneath the surface of the water.
The larva of Psephenus lecontei (Pse-phe'nus le-con'te-i) is
common in the East, clinging to the lower surface of stones
in rapid streams; and we have found it in muck near a
spring. It is very flat and circular in outline
(Fig. 652), and measures about five sixteenths
of an inch in length. It is rarely recognized
as an insect by the young collector. Other
larvae of this family have similar habits, and
resemble this species in form except that the
margin of the body is notched between the
segments.

The family HETEROCERID^E (Het-e-ro-
cer'i-dae) includes only the genus Heteroccrus (Het-e-roc'e-
rus). These beetles “ are oblong or subelongate, oval,
densely clothed with short silky pubescence, very finely
punctate, and of a brown color, with the elytra usually vari¬
egated with undulated bands or spots of a yellow color.
They live in galleries which they excavate in sand or mud
at the margin of bodies of water, and, when disturbed, run
from their galleries and take flight.” (LeConte and Horn.)

Fig. 652.

544

THE STUD V OF INSECTS.

The family Dascyllidas (Das-cyl'li-dae) includes certain
beetles that live on plants, usually near the water. The legs
are short with slender tibise ; the tarsi are five-jointed ; the
posterior coxae are transverse, and dilated into a plate partly
covering the femora ; the anterior coxae are transverse ; and
the abdomen has five free, ventral segments, the fifth
rounded at tip. About fifty species occur in North America.
The larvae, of several species at least, live in rotten wood.

The family RlilPlCERlD^E (Rhip-i-cer'i-dae) is represented
in this country by a very small number of species, which are
most commonly found on cedars. The antennae are serrate
in the females, frequently flabellate in the males. The an¬
terior and middle coxae are conical and prominent, the
former with large trochantins ; the posterior coxae are
transverse, and dilated into a small plate partly covering the
femora.

Family ELATERID^: (El-a-ter'i-dae).

The Click-beetles or Elaters (. El'a-ters ).

There is hardly a country child that has not been enter-
tertained by the acrobatic performances of the long, tidy-
appearing beetles called snapping-bugs, click-beetles,
or skip-jacks (Fig. 653). Touch one of them and it
at once curls up its legs, and drops as if shot ; it
fWl usually lands on its back, and lies there for a time as
Fig. 653. if dead. Suddenly there is a click, and the insect
pops up into the air several inches. If it comes down on its
back, it tries again and again until it succeeds in striking on
its feet, and then it runs off.

We remember well carrying these creatures into the old
district schoolhouse, where all lessons had to be learned
from books, and where Nature was never given a chance to
teach us anything. Here, with one eye on the teacher and
one on this interesting jumper laid on our book behind the
desk, we found a most fascinating occupation for the tedi¬
ous moments. But the end was always the same : the

COLEOPTERA .

545

beetle jumped so high that it betrayed us and was liber¬
ated, and we were disgraced.

Our common species of click-beetles are mostly small or
of medium size, ranging from one tenth to three fourths of
an inch in length. A few species are larger, some reaching
the length of nearly two inches. The majority of the
species are of a uniform brownish color;
some are black or grayish, and some are
conspicuously spotted (Fig. 654). The body
is elongated, somewhat flattened, and tapers
more or less towards each end ; the antennae
are moderately elongated, and more or less
serrate; the first and second abdominal seg¬
ments are not grown together on the ventral
side; and the hind coxae are each furnished with a groove
for the reception of the femur.

The larvae of click-beetles are long, narrow, worm-like
creatures, very even in width, with a very hard covering,
and are brownish or yellowish white in color (Figs. 655 and

Fig. 654. — A click-
beetle. Drasterius
dorsalisy natural
size and enlarged.

Fig. 655. Fig. 656.

656). They are commonly known as wire-worms, a name
suggested by the form and hardness of the body.

Some wire-worms live under the bark of trees and in
rotten wood ; but many of them live in the ground, and
feed on seeds and the roots of grass and grain. In fact
there is hardly a cultivated plant that they do not infest ;
and, working as they do beneath the surface of the ground,
it is extremely difficult to destroy them. Not only do they
infest a great variety of plants, but they are very apt to
attack them at the most susceptible period of their growth,
before they have attained sufficient size and strength to
withstand the attack; and often seed is destroyed before
it has germinated. Thus fields of corn or other grain are

546

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

ruined at the outset. The appearance of these insects
when in the ground, as seen through the glass side of one

of our root-
cages, is
shown in
Fig. 657.

There
is a vast
number of species of click-
beetles ; more than five hun-

Fig. 658.— Larva of Cryptohypnus abbrt .
via/ us : a , clypeus; b , mandible; c ,
maxilla; ef, gula; e, caudal segment.

Fig. 659.— Larva of Drasterius elegant:

F,c. 657.— A corn-plan t growing in a root- '* maX“'a *

cage infested by wire-worms and click-
beetles (from a specimen in the Cornell

Insectary). The spotted beetle represented dred haVC been described
near the base of the plant is Drasterius

elegans: that near the top of the plant is from North America alone.
Agriotes mancus.

It is quite difficult to sep¬
arate the closely-allied species, as there is but little variation
in shape and color. The larvae also show comparatively

CO LEO P TER A.

547

little variation in form ; but in this stage the shape of the
parts of the head and the last segment of the body often
furnish reliable specific characters (Figs. 658 and 659).

In those species that we have bred it requires several
years for the larva to complete its growth. In these species
the full-grown larva changes to a pupa in the latter part of
the summer, in a little cell in the ground ; the pupa soon
afterwards changes to an adult ; but the adult remains in
the cell formed by the larva till the following spring.

Although we tried an extensive series of experiments,
extending over several years, we were unable to find any
satisfactory way of destroying the larvae infesting field
crops. But we found that if the cells containing pupae or
recently-transformed adults were broken the insects per-
shed. We conclude, therefore, that much can be done
towards keeping these insects in check by fall-ploughing ;
for in this way many of the cells containing pupae or young
adults would be broken.

The Eyed Elater, Alans oculatus (A'laus oc-u-la'tus). —
Although most of our click-beetles are of moderate size, we
have a few species that are large. The most common of
these is the Eyed Elater (El'a-ter). This
is the great pepper-and-salt-colored fellow
that has two large, black, velvety, eye¬
like spots on the prothorax (Fig. 660).

These are not its eyes, however. The true
eyes are situated one on each side of the
head near the base of the antenna. This
insect varies greatly in size, some individ¬
uals being not more than half as large as
others. The larger larvae are about two
and a half inches long, and nearly four
tenths of an inch wide across the middie
of the body. They live upon decaying F,c- 6&>.
wood, and are often found in the trunks of old apple-trees.

There is an Elater quite similar to the preceding that

543

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

differs in having the eye-like spots less distinctly marked,
and is not as common. This is Alans myops (A. my'ops).

The family THROSCID^E (Thros'ci-dae) includes a few
small species which resemble the Elaters and Buprestids in
having the prosternum prolonged behind into a process,
which is received in the mesosternum. They differ from
the Elaters in having the prothorax firmly joined to the
mesothorax, and the front coxal cavities closed behind by
the mesosternum instead of by the prosternum; and from
the Buprestids in having the ventral abdominal segments
all free. The adult beetles are found on flowers.

Family BUPRESTIDS (Bu-pres'ti-dae).

The Metallic Wood-borers or Buprestids ( Bu-pres'tids ).

The Buprestids resemble the click-beetles somewhat in
for/n, being rather long and narrow ; but they are easily
recognized by their metallic coloring. Their bodies are
hard and inflexible, and usually appear as if made of
bronze ; but some species exhibit the brightest of metallic
colors. The antennae are serrate; the first and second
abdominal segments are grown together on the ventral
side; and these beetles do not have the power of springing
when placed on the back.

The adults are found upon flowers and upon the bark of
trees, basking in the hot sunshine. Some of them fly very
rapidly, with a loud buzzing noise ; and some drop to the
ground when disturbed, and feign death.

Most of the larvae are borers, feeding beneath bark or
within solid wood. In such species the body is of a very
characteristic form, which is commonly designated as “flat¬
headed.” The flattened portion, however, is composed
largely of the segments immediately following the head.
The first thoracic segment is very wide and flat ; the next
two or three segments are also flattened, but are successively
smaller; while the rest of the body is quite narrow and
cylindrical. These “flat-headed” larvae are legless, and

COLEOPTERA .

549

have been compared to tadpoles on account of their form.
Their burrows are flattened, corresponding with the shape
of the larger part of the body. In some of the smaller
species the larvae are cylindrical, and are furnished with three
pairs of legs. These are leaf-miners; and in the adult state
the body is much shorter than in the more typical species.

The Virginian Buprestid, Chalcopliora virgimca (ChaF
coph7o-ra vir-gin'i-ca). — This is the largest of our common
Buprestids (Fig. 661). It is copper-colored,
often almost black, and has its upper surface
roughened by irregular, lengthwise furrows.

This beetle appears late in spring in the vicin¬
ity of pine-trees. The larvae bore in the wood
of pine, and are often very injurious.

The Dicerca divaricata (Di-cer'ca di-var-i-
ca'ta) is three quarters of an inch or more in
length, copper-colored or brassy above, with the wing-covers
marked with square, elevated, black spots. The
wing-covers taper very much behind, and are
separated at the tips (Fig. 662). The larva bores
in peach, cherry, beech, and maple.

The Flat-headed Apple-tree Borer, Chrysoboth-
ris feniorata (Chrys-o-both'ris fem-o-ra'ta).— This
Fic. 662. js one 0f the most injurious of all Buprestids. The
adult (Fig. 663) is about half an inch long, and is a very dark
green above, with bronze reflections, especially in
the furrows of the wing-covers. It appears during
June and July, and lays its eggs upon the trunk and
limbs of apple, peach, oak, and other trees. Ihe
larvae at first bore into the bark and sap-wood, and Fig-663-
later into the solid wood. The transformations are com-
pleted in one year.

To prevent the ravages of this pest, the trees are rubbed
with soap during June or July, or cakes of soap are placed in
the forks of the trees, so that the rains will dissolve the soap
and wash it down over the trunks. This is supposed to

550

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

prevent the beetles from depositing their eggs on the trees.
After a tree is once infested, the larvae should be cut out
with a gouge or a knife. Nursery stock that is infested should
be promptly burned.

The Red-necked Agrilus, Agrilus ruficollis (Ag'ri-lus ruf.
i-col'lis). — This beetle (Fig. 664) is about three tenths
of an inch long. Its body is narrow and nearly cyl¬
indrical. The head is of a dark-bronze color, the
prothorax of a beautiful coppery bronze, and the
wing covers black. The larva bores in the stems of
Fig. 664. raspberry and blackberry, causing a large swelling,
known as the Raspberry Gouty-gall. These galls should be
collected and burned in early spring.

Family Lampyrim: (Lam-pyr'i-dae).

The Firefly Family or Lampyrids (Lam-py' rids).

During some warm, moist evening early in our Northern
June we are startled to see here and there a tiny meteor shoot
out of the darkness near at hand, and we suddenly realize that
summer is close upon us, heralded by her mysterious mes¬
sengers, the fireflies. A week or two later these little torch-
bearers appear in full force, and the gloom that overhangs
marshes and wet meadows, the dusk that shrouds the banks
of streams and ponds, the darkness that haunts the borders
of forests, are illumined with myriads of flashes as these
silent, winged hosts move hither and thither under the cover
of the night.

The fireflies are soft-bodied beetles of medium or small
size, with slender, usually eleven-jointed, saw-like an¬
tennae. The prothorax is expanded into a thin pro¬
jecting margin, which in most cases completely
covers the head (Fig. 66$). The wing-covers are
rather soft, and never strongly embrace the sides of F,c-66s-
the abdomen, as with most other beetles.

Most members of this family are nocturnal insects, and

COLEOPTERA. 551

are sluggish by day. On the other hand, a few species are
very active in the brightest sunshine.

The most common of these day-fliers are the soldier-
beetles, Chauliognathus (Chaul-i-og'na-thus). These are very
abundant in late summer and autumn on various flowers, but
especially on those of the goldenrod. There are two very
common species: the Pennsylvania Soldier-beetle, Chauliog -
nathus pennsylvanicus (C. penn-syl-van'i-cus), which is yellow,
with a black spot in the middle of the prothorax and one
near the tip of each wing-cover (Fig. 666) ; and the Margined

Fig. 666.

Fig. 668.

Soldier-beetle, C \ marginatus (C. mar-gi-na'tus). This species
(Fig. 667) may be distinguished from the former by the head
and lower part of the thighs being orange. The beetles
of this genus are remarkable for having an extensible,
fleshy filament attached to each maxilla. These filaments
are probably used in collecting pollen and nectar from
flowers.

Another common diurnal Lampyrid is Calopteron reticu -
latum (Ca-lop'te-ron re-tic-u-la'tum) (Fig. 668). This species
represents a group in which the wing-covers are covered with
a network of fine elevated lines. These insects are found on
the leaves of plants, where they seek and feed upon other
insects.

The true Fireflies are nocturnal, and are furnished with
a light-giving apparatus, which is situated on the lower side
of the abdomen ; the exact position of these organs differs
in different genera. Figure 665 represents a common species.

552

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The family MALACHUDiE (Mal-a-chi'i-dae) is composed
chiefly of small or very small beetles, found on flowers, and
on the ground near water. They vary greatly in form ; but
bear a general resemblance in structure to the preceding
family, from which they can be distinguished by the presence
of only six ventral abdominal segments. Some members of
the family are furnished with soft, orange-colored vesicles
which they protrude from the sides of the body, and
which are supposed to be scent organs for defence.

One of our most common representatives is Collops
quadrirnaculatus (Col'lops quad-ri-mac-u-la'tus), which F,G* 67°*
is yellowish orange, with the top of the head and four spots
on the wing-covers bluish black (Fig. 670).

Family CLERlDiE (Cler'i-das.)

The Checkered Beetles .

The family Cleridae includes a considerable number of
species which are found on flowers and on the trunks of
trees. Many of them are beautifully marked with strongly
contrasting colors; this has suggested the common name
checkered beetles for them. Frequently they are more or
less ant-like in form, the prothorax being in these cases
narrower than the wing-covers, and slightly narrower than
the head. The abdomen has either five or six ventral seg¬
ments; the anterior coxae are conical, prominent, and con¬
tiguous, or very slightly separate ; the hind coxae are trans¬
verse, not prominent, and covered by the femora in repose;
the legs are slender ; and the tarsi are five-jointed.

In the larval state these insects are usually carnivorous,
living under bark and in the burrows of wood-boring insects,
upon which they prey; some are found in the nests of bees;
and still others feed on dead animal matter.

Figure 671 represents one of our more common species,
Trichodes nuttalli (Tri-cho'des nut-tal'li).

COLEOPTERA. 553

The family PTINID^E (Ptin'i-dae) or the Death-watch
Family is composed of small insects, which rarely
exceed a quarter of an inch in length, and very many
of them are not half that length. They are usually
of a cinnamon-brown color, but not always so. The
most distinctive structural feature is the position of Fig- 67»-
the trochanters, which are situated between the femora and
coxae, instead of at one side of the base of the femur in each
case. These insects usually live upon dead vegetable matter,
and frequently upon that which has begun to decay ; but some
bore into solid wood, and others attack living plants. One
of the latter is the Apple-twig Borer, Amphicenis bicandattis
(Am-phic'e-rus bi-cau-da'tus), which often injuriously affects
the twigs of apple-trees; the adult beetle is about three
tenths of an inch long, and the male has two thorn-like pro¬
jections from the ends of the wing-covers. The Cigarette
Beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Las-i-o-der'ma ser-ri-cor'ne) is
a serious pest in tobacco manufactories, infesting the dried
tobacco-leaves and the manufactured products. Sitodrepa
panicea (Si-tod're-pa pa-nic'e-a) is a cosmopolitan species,
which feeds on many kinds of dead organic matter, both
animal and vegetable. It sometimes assumes the role of a
bookworm. We have bred it in large numbers from the
cover of a very old book, a copy of Dante's Divine Comedy
printed in 1536. It seems that old books are much more
subject to the attacks of bookworms than others.

The family CUPESIDiE (Cu-pes'i-dae) includes only four
American species. These are found under the bark of de¬
caying trees, and sometimes in houses. The body is covered
with small scales; other characteristics are given in the table
of families.

The family LvMEXYLID/E (Lym-ex-yl'i-dae) is also a very
small family. It is represented in this country by only three
species. Its chief interest lies in the fact that it includes
the Ship-timber beetle, Lymexylon navale (Ly-mex'y-lon na-
va'le) of Europe.

554

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The family CllD^E (Ci'i-dae) includes a small number of
very small beetles, found under the bark of trees and in the
dry and woody species of fungus. The body is cylindrical;
the prothorax is prolonged over the head ; the abdomen has
five ventral segments, of which the first is longer than the
others ; and the tarsi are all four-jointed.

The family SPHINDID/E (Sphin'di-dae) is represented in
North America by only three small species, which are found
in dry fungi, which grow on the trunks of trees. Although
the antennae are clubbed, and these beetles are commonly
regarded as belonging to the Clavicornia, the tarsi are like
those of the Heteromera, the fore and middle tarsi being
five-jointed and the hind tarsi four-jointed.

Family LUCANID^E (Lu-can'i-dae)..

The Stag-beetles.

The stag-beetles are so called on account of their large
mandibles, which in the males of some species are branched
like the antlers of a stag. But they are more surely distin¬
guished by the form of the antennae, which are lamellate ;
but the plates composing the club are not capable of close
apposition, and usually are not flattened. The student should
carefully distinguish between this type of antenna and that
of the Scarabaeidae, where the terminal segments are greatly
flattened and can be brought close together so as to form a
compact club.

The adult beetles are found on the trunks of trees, and
are said, by Harris, to live upon sap, for procuring which the
brushes of their jaws and lips seem to be designed ; but it
seems probable that some species at least feed upon decom¬
posing wood. They lay their eggs in crevices of the bark of
trees, especially near the roots. The larvae that hatch from
these eggs resemble the well-known larvae of May-beetles in
form. But, unlike the white grubs which feed on the roots
of herbaceous plants, the larvae of stag-beetles bore into the
solid wood of the trunks and roots of trees, and reduce it to

COLEOPTERA .

5SS

a substance resembling very coarse sawdust. They mature
slowly ; it is said that the larvae of some of the larger species
require six years to complete their growth.

The family is a small one; only fourteen North Ameri¬
can species are at present known.

The Common Stag-beetle, Lucanus dama (Lu-ca'nus da'-
ma). — The most common of our Stag-beetles is this species
(Fig. 672). It flies by night with a
loud buzzing sound, and is often at¬
tracted to lights in houses. The larva
is a large whitish grub resembling the
larvae of the Lamellicorn Beetles. It
is found in the trunks and roots of
old, partially decayed trees, especially
apple, cherry, willow, and oak. The
specimen figured here is a male ; in
the female the mandibles are shorter.

The Giant Stag-beetle, Lucanus
elaphus (L. el'a-phus), is a large species
found in the South. It measures from
one and one-half inches to two inches
in length, not including the mandibles, which in the case of
the male are more than half as long as the body, and
branched like the antlers of a stag.

The Antelope Beetle, Dorcus parallelus
(Dor'cus par-al-le'lus). — This beetle is
somewhat smaller than the species of Lu¬
canus, and differs in having the wing-covers
marked with longitudinal striae
and the teeth on the outside
of the fore tibiae much smaller
(Fig. 673.)

Several species of stag-bee¬
tles that are much smaller
than Dorcus are found in this
country.

Fig. 672.

Fig. 673.

Fig. 674.

556

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

The Horned Passalus, Passalus cornutus (Pas'sa-lus cor-
nu'tus), differs greatly in appearance from our other stag-
beetles (Fig. 674). It is a large shining, black beetle, with
a short horn, bent forwards, on the top of the head. This
beetle and its larva are found in decaying wood. The larva
is remarkable for possessing only four well-developed legs.

Family SCARAB^EID^E (Scar-a-bae'i-dae).

The Scarabezids (Sea r-a- bee' ids) or the Lamellicorn (. La-met li -

corn) Beetles .

This is a very large family, including beetles that repre¬
sent a wide range of variation in size, form, and habits.
They are mostly short, stout-bodied beetles, of which the
well-known June-bugs or May-beetles represent the most
familiar type. The most useful character for distinguishing
these insects is the lamellate form of the club of the antennae,
the segments constituting it being greatly flattened, and
capable of being brought close together. It is this character
that suggests the name lamellicorn beetles.

According to their habits, the members of this family can
be separated into two well-marked groups — the scavengers
and the leaf-chafers.

THE LAMELLICORN SCAVENGERS.

The lamellicorn scavengers in both the larval and adult
states feed upon decaying animal and vegetable matter.
Nearly all the species live in the dung of animals, chiefly that
of horses and cows. But the members of one genus, Trox,
feed upon decaying animal matter, and a few species feed
upon fungi. The following are the most common represen¬
tatives of this division :

I. The Tumble-bugs . — These are the most familiar of all
dung-beetles, for their peculiar habits have attracted much at¬
tention from the earliest times. They are of rounded form,
and the wing-covers are shortened so as to expose the tip

COLEOPTERA.

55 7

of the abdomen. They are generally black, but some are
colored with rich metallic hues. They vary greatly in size.

The name tumble-bug refers to the habit which many
species exhibit of forming round balls of dung, which they
roll long distances. They work in pairs, a male and a female
working together; and often the ball is several times as
large as their combined size. They finally bury the ball in
the ground, and the female deposits an egg in one side of
it ; this partially decomposed matter serves as food for the
larva when it hatches. It should be noted that this is one
of the instances, rare among insects, where the male realizes
that he has some responsibility as a father, and assists the
female in providing for the young.

This strange habit of rolling these balls has occasioned
much speculation as to its object, and has been the source
of many superstitions, especially in ancient times. The
only reasonable theory that we have met is that as many
predaceous insects frequent the masses of dung from which
the balls are obtained, in order to prey upon the larvae which
live there, the more intelligent tumble bugs remove the food
for their larvae to a safe distance.

The most noted member of this group of genera is the
Sacred Beetle of the Egyptians, Ateuchus sacer (A-teu'chus
sa'cer). This insect was held in high veneration by this
ancient people. It was placed by them in the tombs with
their dead ; its picture was painted on sarcophagi, and its
image was carved in stone and precious gems. These sculp¬
tured beetles can be found in almost any collection of
Egyptian antiquities.

From the habits and structure of this Scarabaeid the
Egyptians evolved a remarkable symbolism. The ball,
which the beetles were supposed to roll from sunrise to
sunset, represented the earth ; the beetle itself personified
the sun, because of the sharp projections on its head, which
extend out like rays of light ; while the thirty segments of
its six tarsi represented the days of the month. All indi-

558

THE STUD Y GF INSECTS.

viduals of this species were thought to be males, and a race
of males symbolized a race of warriors. This latter super¬
stition was carried over to Rome, and the Roman soldiers
wore images of the Sacred Beetle set in rings.

Our common tumble-bugs are distributed among three
genera : Cant ho n, Copris , and Phanceus. In the genus Can-
thon (Can'thon) the middle and posterior tibiae are slender,
and scarcely enlarged at the extremity. Canthon Icevis (C.
lae'vis) is our most common species (Fig. 675). In Copris
(Co'pris) and Phaiiceus (Pha-nae'us) the middle
and posterior tibiae are dilated at the ex-
t tremity. In Phanceus the fore tarsi are want-

f 1 ing, and the others are not furnished with

\ 1 claws ; the species are brilliantly colored.

fig. 67s. Phanceus carnifex (P. car'ni-fex), with its rough
copper-colored thorax and green elytra, is one of our most
beautiful beetles, and is our best-known species. It is
about two thirds inch in length, and the head of the male is
furnished with a prominent horn. In Copris all the tarsi are
present and furnished with claws. Copris Carolina is a large
well-known species, which measures more than one inch in
length.

II. The Apliodian (A-pho'di-an) Dung-beetles . — These
are small insects, our common species measuring from one
sixth to one third inch in length. The body is oblong,
convex, or cylindrical in form, and, except in one small
genus, the clypeus is expanded so as to cover the mouth-
parts entirely. These insects are very abundant in pastures
in the dung of horses and cattle, and immense numbers of
them are often seen flying through the air during warm
autumn afternoons. More than one hundred North Amer¬
ican species have been described ; of these seventy belong
to the genus Aphodius (A-pho'di-us). One of the more
common species is Aphodius fimetanus (A. fim-e-ta'ri-us),
which is about one third inch in length, and is easily recog¬
nized by its red wing-covers.

COLEOPTERA.

559

III. The Earth-boring Dung-beetles . — These beetles are
of a rounded convex form (Fig. 676). They differ from all
other dung-beetles in having the antennae
eleven-jointed, and in the labrum and man¬
dibles being visible from above. This is a
small group, less than twenty North American
species having been described. The popular
name is derived from that of the typical genus, Fig. 676.
Geotrupes (Ge-o-tru'pes), which signifies earth-boring. Those
species the habits of which are known live in excrement.
The females bore holes into the earth either beneath the
dung or near it; into these holes they convey a quantity of
the dung: this is to serve as food for the larvae, an egg be¬
ing laid in each hole. This is an approach to the peculiar
habits of the tumble-bugs.

IV. The Skin-beetles. — T h e members of this group are
oblong, convex species, in which the surface of the body
and wing-covers is usually very rough, and covered with a

crust of dirt, which is removed with great dif¬
ficulty. They are small or of medium size ;
our most common species measure from one
third to one half inch in length. The abdomen is
Fig. 677. covered by the elytra; the feet are hardly fitted
for digging, but the femora of the front legs are greatly di¬
lated. Our species all belong to the genus Trox (Fig. 677).
They feed upon dried, decomposing animal matter; many
species are found about the refuse of tanneries, and upon
the hoofs and hair of decaying animals.

THE LAMELLICORN LEAF-CHAFERS.

The leaf-chafers are herbivorous insects which in the
adult state usually feed upon the leaves of trees, but many
of the species devour the pollen and petals of flowers. In
the larval state some of these insects are found in rotten
wood ; others live in the ground, where they feed upon
the roots of grass and other plants. These larvae are thick,

560 the study of insects.

fleshy grubs, with well-developed legs (Fig. 678). The
caudal segments of the abdomen are very
large, and appear black on account of the
large amount of dirt in the intestine. The
body is strongly curved, so that the larvae
can crawl only with great difficulty; when
_ in the ground they usually lie on their

backs.

The following groups include the more important repre¬
sentatives of this division : —

I. The May-beetles or Jun e-bugs. — During the warm
evenings of May and June we throw open our windows so
that we may feel the refreshing coolness of the night air
and the inspiration of the new summer. Suddenly, as we
sit working or reading, our peace is disturbed by a buzzing
object which whirls above us. Then comes a sharp thud
and silence. A little later the scratching of six pairs of
tiny claws tells us the whereabouts of the intruder. But so
familiar are we with his kind that we need not look to know
how he appears, the mahogany-brown blunderer, with
yellowish wings sticking out untidily from under his
polished wing-covers.

Although these insects are beetles, and attract our atten¬
tion each year in May, they have received the infelicitous
title of June-bugs. They are more properly termed May-
beetles.

The May-beetles belong to the genus Lachnosterna
(Lach-no-ster'na), of which we have more
than sixty species. The adults frequently do
much injury by eating the foliage of trees.

In the case of large trees this injury usually
passes unnoticed ; but small trees are often
completely defoliated by them. When trouble¬
some, they can be easily gathered by shaking
them from trees upon sheets. Figure 679

r & ^ Fig. 679.

represents a common species.

COLEOPTERA.

561

The larvae of the different species of May-beetles are
commonly classed together under the name “ white grubs.”
They are often great pests in meadows and in cultivated
fields. We have known large strawberry plantations to be
destroyed by them, and have seen large patches of ground
in pastures from which the dead sod could be rolled as one
would roll a carpet from a floor, the roots having been all
destroyed and the ground just beneath the surface finely
pulverized by these larvae. No satisfactory method of
fighting this pest has been discovered as yet. If swine be
turned into fields infested by white grubs they will root
them up and feed upon them. We have destroyed great
numbers of the beetles by the use of trap-lanterns, but
many beneficial insects were destroyed at the same time.

II. The Rose-bugs. — The common rose-bug, Macrodactylus
subspinosus (Mac-ro-dac,ty-lus sub-spi-no'sus), is a well-known
pest. It is a slender beetle, tapering before and behind, and

I ^ \ measuring three eighths inch in length (Fig. 680).
Jac It is thickly clothed with fine, yellow, scale-like
hairs, which give it a yellow color; the legs are
/ \ long, slender, and of a pale-red color. These beetles

Fig. 680. appear in early summer, and often do great injury
to roses and other flowers, and to the foliage of various
fruit-trees and shrubs. This is a very difficult pest to con¬
trol. The best method now known is to use Paris-green
when safe to do so ; in other cases the beetles should be
collected by jarring them into a large funnel which is fitted
into a can. The larvae of rose-bugs feed on the roots of
plants.

III. The Shining Leaf -chafers. — These insects resemble
the May-beetles in form, but can be distinguished from
them by the position of the hinder pair of spiracles, which
are visible on the sides below the edges of the wing-covers;
and they differ from the other leaf-chafers in which the
spiracles are in this position in that the tarsal claws are of
unequal size, one claw of each pair being larger than the other.

37

562

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

These beetles are usually polished, and many of them are of
brilliant colors. To this family belong the most beautiful
beetles known, many appearing as if made of burnished
gold or silver, or other metal.

The Goldsmith-beetle, Cotalpa lanigera (Co-tal'pa la-
nig'e-ra). — This is one of our most beautiful species. It
measures a little less than one inch in length, and is a broad
oval in shape. It is of a lemon-yellow color above, glittering
like burnished gold on the top of the head and thorax ; the
under side of the body is copper-colored and thickly covered
with whitish wool.

The Spotted Pelidnota, Pelidnota punctata (Pel-id-no'ta
punc-ta'ta). — This beetle is reddish brown
above, with three black spots on each wing-
cover and one on each side of the prothorax
(Fig. 681). The scutellum, base of the head,
and the entire body beneath are of a deep
bronzed-green color. The adult is commonly
found feeding on the leaves of grape. The
larva feeds upon decaying roots and stumps of
various trees.

The Light-loving Anomala, Anomala lucicola (A-nom'a-la
lu-cic'o-la). — This also feeds on the leaves of grape. It
resembles the preceding species in form, but is much smaller,
measuring onlyabout one third inch in length. It is of a pale
dull yellow color; the prothorax is black, margined with
dull yellow, and the hinder part of the head and the ventral
side of the body are also black ; sometimes the abdomen is
brown. As this beetle appears early in the summer, it can
be safely destroyed with Paris-green, for the subsequent
rains will wash the poison from the vines before the fruit
ripens.

IV. The Rhinoceros-beetles. — The name rhinoceros-beetles
was suggested for this group by the fact that in many species
the male bears a horn on the middle of the head. In addi¬
tion to this horn there may be one or more horns on the

COLEOPTERA.

563

thorax. These beetles are of medium or large size ; in
fact, the largest beetles known belong to this group. As
with the flower-beetles, the claws of the tarsi are of
equal size, but the fore coxae are transverse, and not promi¬
nent.

One of the largest of our rhinoceros-beetles is Dynastes
tityrus (Dy-nas'tes tit'y-rus). This is of a greenish-gray
color, with scattered black spots on the wing-covers, or, if
only recently transformed, of a uniform dark brown. The

Fig. 682.

male (Fig. 682) bears a prominent horn on the top of his
head, and a large one and two small ones on his prothorax.
The female has only a tubercle on the head. This insect is
found in the Southern States; the larva lives in rotten
wood. In the far West there is a closely allied species,
Dynastes grantii (D. gran'ti-i), in which the large horn on
the thorax is twice as long as in D . tityrus. In the West
Indies there occurs a species, Dynastes Hercules (D. her'cu-les),
which measures six inches in length.

Several other genera occur in this country, in some of
which the males have prominent horns ; in others the horns
are represented by tubercles, or are wanting, ihe following
species represents the latter type.

The Sugar-cane Beetle, Ligyrus rugiceps (Lig'y-rus
ru'gi-ceps). — This beetle is a serious pest in the cane-fields
of Louisiana, and it sometimes injures corn. Figure 683
represents the adult, and its method of attacking a
plant.

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS .

564

V. The Flower-beetles. — The flower-beetles are so called
because many of them are often seen feeding upon pollen
and flying from flower to flower. These beetles are some¬
what flattened, or nearly level on the back; the claws

Fig. 683.— The Sugar-cane Beetle.

of the tarsi are of equal size, and the fore coxae are coni¬
cal and prominent. Nearly sixty species occur in this
country.

COLEOPTERA. 565

The Hermit Flower-beetle, Osmoderma eremicola (Os-mo*
der'ma er-e-mic'o-la). — This is one of the
larger of our Flower-beetles (Fig. 684). It
is of a deep mahogany-brown color, nearly
smooth, and highly polished. It is sup¬
posed that the larva lives on decaying
wood in forest-trees.

The Rough Flower-beetle, Osmoderma
scabra (O. sca'bra), is closely allied to the
preceding. It is not quite as large, meas¬
uring about one inch in length. It is
purplish black, and the wing-covers are
roughened with irregular, coarsely-punc¬
tured striae. It is nocturnal, concealing
itself during the day in the crevices and hollows of trees.
The larva lives in the decaying wood of apple and cherry,
consuming the wood and inducing more rapid decay.

The Bumble Flower-beetle, Euphoria inda (Eu-phoTi-a
in'da). — The most common of our Flower-beetles, at least in
the North, is a yellowish-brown one, with the
wing-covers sprinkled all over with small, irregular
black spots (Fig. 685). It is one of the first in¬
sects to appear in the spring. It flies near the
surface of the ground with a loud humming
sound, like that of a bumble-bee, for which it is
often mistaken. During the summer months it is
Fig. 685. not Seen ; but a new brood appears about the
middle of September. The adult is a general feeder occur¬
ring upon flowers, eating the pollen ; upon corn-stalks and
green corn in the milk, sucking the juices ; and upon peaches,
grapes, and apples. Occasionally the ravages are very
serious.

The genus Euphoria represents well the form of the
more typical Flower-beetles, which are distinguished by the
margin of each wing-cover having a large wavy indentation
near its base, which renders the side pieces of the meso-

5 66

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

thorax visible from above. This indentation makes it un¬
necessary for these insects to raise or expand their wing-
covers when flying, as most beetles do, as they are able to
pass the wings out from the sides.

The Sad Flower-beetle, Euphoria melancholica (Eu-pho'-
ri-a mel-an-chol'i-ca). — This is a much smaller species than
the Bumble Flower-beetle, measuring hardly half an inch in
length. It is almost black, with irregular transverse white
lines on the wing-covers. We have received several reports
of its producing injuries similar to those of E. inda .

The Fig-eater, Allorliina yiitida (Al-lo-rhi'na nit'i-da). —
This species extends over the Atlantic slope, and is very
common in the South. It is a green, velvety insect, measur¬
ing from two thirds of an inch to one inch in length. It is
somewhat pointed in front, and usually has the sides of the
thorax and elytra brownish yellow. These beetles often fly
in great numbers at night, making a loud buzzing noise similar
to that of the May-beetles. In fact, in the South the term
June-bug is often applied to this insect. The larvae feed
upon the roots of grass and other plants. Sometimes they
leave the ground and crawl from one place to another.
When they do so they, strangely enough, crawl upon their
backs, making no use of their short legs. On one occasion
we saw them crawling over the pavements on the Capitol
grounds at Washington in such numbers that bushels of
them were swept up and carted away.

The family Sl’ONDYLlD/E (Spon-dyl'i-dae), or aberrant
long-horned beetles, includes only four North American

Fig. 686.

Fig. 687.

Fig. 688.

CO LEO P TER A.

5 67

species. These live under the bark of pine-trees. They
are closely allied to the Cerambycidae, but differ in the form
of the tarsi and in the structure of the antennae. The
fourth segment of the tarsus, although much reduced in
size, is distinctly visible; the first three segments are but
slightly dilated, and the third is either bilobed or not (Fig.
686). The segments of the antennae have deep impressions,
in which are situated the organs of special sense (Fig. 687).
The most common species is Para7idra bruttnea (Pa-ran'dra
brun'ne-a) (Fig. 688) ; this insect is of a mahogany-brown
color.

Family CERAMBYCID/E (Cer-am-byc'i-dae).

The Long-horned Beetles or Cerambycids ( Ce-ram ' by -c ids ) .

This is a very large family, there being about six hun¬
dred described species in North America alone. As a rule
the beetles are of medium or large size, and graceful in
form ; many species are beautiful in color. The
body is oblong, often cylindrical. The antennae are
long, often longer than the whole body ; but except
in one genus, Prionus , they are only eleven-jointed,
as with most beetles. The legs are also long, and
the tarsi are apparently four-jointed, the fourth
segment being very small and hidden ; the third
segment of the tarsi is strongly bilobed (Fig. 689).

They are strong fliers and swift runners ; but many of
them have the habit of remaining motionless on the limbs
of trees for long intervals, and when in this apparent trance
they suffer themselves to be picked up. But, when
once caught, many species make an indignant squeak¬
ing by rubbing the prothorax and mesothorax to¬
gether.

The larvae are borers, living within the solid
parts of trees or shrubs, or beneath bark. They are
white or yellowish grubs. The body is soft, and
fig. 690. tapers slightly from head to tail (Fig. 690); the
jaws are powerful, enabling these insects to bore into the

568

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

hardest wood. The larval state usually lasts two or three
years. The pupa state is passed within the burrow made
by the larva ; frequently a chamber is made by partitioning
off a section of the burrow with a plug of chips; but some¬
times the larva builds a ring of chips around itself just
beneath the bark before changing to a pupa. The pupal
state is comparatively short, lasting only a few days or weeks.

This family comprises three subfamilies, which are sep¬
arated by Le Conte and Horn as follows: —

A. Sides of the prothorax with a sharp margin, p. 568.

PrIONINjE.

AA. Prothorax not margined.

B. Front tibiae not grooved; palpi never acute at tip. p. 569.

CERAMBYCINiE.

BB. Front tibiae obliquely grooved on the inner side; palpi with
the last segment cylindrical and pointed, p. 572 . LamiiNjE.

Subfamily . Prionin^E (Pri-o-ni'nae).

The Prionids {Pri -d nidi).

The larger of the Long-horned Beetles constitute this
subfamily. They are distinguished from other Cerambycids
by having the sides of the prothorax prolonged outwards

into a thin margin, which is more
or less toothed. The wing-covers
are usually leathery in appearance,
and of a brownish or black color.
The following are our best-known
species : —

The Broad-necked Prionus, Pri-
onus laticollis (Pri-o'nus lat-i-col'-
lis). — This is the largest of our
common species; but the individ¬
uals vary from less than one inch
f,g- 69** to two inches in length. It is of a

pitchy-black color, and of the form shown in Figure 691.
The antennae are twelve-jointed in both sexes. The larva

COLEOPTERA.

569

is a large fleshy grub, and infests the roots of grape, apple,
poplar, and other trees.

The Tile-horned Prionus, Prionus imbricornis (P. im-
bri-cor'nis), is very similar to the preceding species, but can
be distinguished at a glance by the form of the antennas.
In the antennas of the male the number of the segments
varies from eighteen to twenty, while in the female the
number varies from sixteen to seventeen. The popular
name refers to the fact that the segments of the antennae of
the male overlap one another like the tiles on a roof. The
larva infests the roots of grape and pear, and also feeds
upon the roots of herbaceous plants.

The Straight-bodied Prionid, Orthosoma brunneum (Or-
tho-so'ma brun'ne-um), is also a common species. The body
is long, narrow, and somewhat flattened ; it measures one
inch to one and one-half inches in length, and is of a light-
brown color. The prothorax is short, and is armed on each
side with three sharp spines. The sides of the wing-covers
are very nearly parallel ; this suggests the common name.
The adult flies by night, and is often attracted to lights ; the
larva is supposed to infest pine.

Subfamily CERAMBYCIN^E (Ce-ram-by-ci'nae).

The Typical Cerambycids (Ce-rairi by-cids.)

In this subfamily the prothorax is rounded on the sides,
the the tibiae of the fore legs are not grooved, and the palpi
are never acute at tip. There are nearly four hundred
American species, representing more than one
hundred genera. The few species mentioned
below are those that the beginning student is
most likely to meet.

The Ribbed Pine-borer, Rhagium lineatum
(Rha'gi-um lin-e-a'tum). — This is a gray beetle
mottled with black, and has a narrow thorax,
with a spine on each side (Fig. 692). It received

Fig. 692.

name

because of the three ridges extending lengthwise on each

570

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

wing-cover. Its larva bores in the wood of pine-trees. On
one occasion the writer found many of them in a pine-tree
eight inches in diameter, which they had bored through and
through. When the larva is full grown it makes a hole
nearly through the thick bark of the tree, so that it may
easily push its way out after its transformations; it then
retreats a short distance, and makes a little ring of chips
around itself, between the bark and the wood, and changes
to a pupa within this rude cocoon. The adult beetle remains
in this pupal cell through the winter.

The Cloaked Knotty-horn, Desmocerus palliatus (Des-
moc'e-rus pal-li-a'tus). — This beautiful insect is of a dark-

blue color, with greenish reflections.
The basal part of the wing-covers is
orange-yellow, giving the insect the
appearance of having a yellow cape
thrown over its shoulders (Fig. 693).
The segments in the middle of the
antennae are thickened at the outer
end, so that they look like a series
of knots. The adult is found quite
common in June and July on elder, in the pith of which the
larva bores.

The Beautiful Maple-borer, Plagionotus speciosus (Plag-i-o-
no'tus spe-ci-o'sus). — This is a handsome insect, marked
with black and yellow, as indicated in Fig¬
ure 694. It lays its eggs in midsummer
on the trunks of sugar-maples, in the wood
of which the larvae bore. If an infested
tree be examined in the spring the pres¬
ence of these borers can be detected by
the dust that falls from the burrows. The
larvae can be destroyed at this time by the
use of a knife and a stiff wire.

T^e Locust-borer, Cyllene robince (Cyl-
le'ne ro-bin'i-ae). — To the enthusiastic en-

COLEOPTERA .

571

tomologist the goldenrod is a rich mine, yielding to the
collector more treasures than any other flower. It gives
up its gold-dust pollen to every insect-seeker; and because
of this generous attitude to all-comers it is truly emblematic
of the country that has chosen it as its national flower.

Among the insects that revel in this golden mine in the
autumn is a black beetle with numerous transverse or wavy
yellow bands (Fig. 695). This beetle is also
found on locust-trees, where it lays its eggs.

The larvae bore under the bark and into the
hard wood ; they attain their growth in a little
less than a year. The locust-trees have been
completely destroyed in some localities by the
depredations of these larvae.

The Painted Hickory-borer, Cyllene pictus
(C. pic'tus). — This beetle resembles the preced¬
ing so closely that the same figure will represent either.
But the Hickory-borer not only infests a different kind of
tree, but appears in the spring instead of the autumn. In
this species the second segment of the hind tarsus is densely
pubescent beneath, while it is glabrous in the Locust-borer.

The Oak-pruner, Elaphidion villosutn (El-a-phid'i-on vil-
lo'sum). — The work of this insect is much more likely to
attract attention than the insect itself. Frequently, in the
autumn, the ground beneath oak-trees, and sometimes
beneath apple-trees also, is strewn with small branches that
have been neatly severed from the trees as if with a saw.
These branches are sometimes nearly an inch in diameter,
and have been cut off by the larva of a beetle, which on ac¬
count of this habit is called the Oak-pruner. The beetle lays
each of its eggs in a small twig. The larva eats out the in¬
side of this twig, and works down into a larger branch, fol¬
lowing the centre of it towards the trunk of the tree. When
full grown the larva enlarges the burrow suddenly so as
nearly to sever the branch from the tree, leaving only the
bark and a few fibres of wood. It then retreats up its bur-

572

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

row a short distance, and builds a plug of chips below it.
The autumn winds break the branch from the tree. The
larva remains in its burrow through the winter, and under¬
goes its transformations in the spring. No one has ex¬
plained its object in severing the branch. The adult is a
plain, brownish-gray beetle. Whenever it becomes abun¬
dant its increase can be checked by gathering the fallen
branches in the autumn and burning them before the beetles
have escaped.

Subfamily Lamiinas (Lam-i-i'nae).

The Lamiids (Lam'i-ids).

As in the preceding subfamily, the prothorax is rounded
with these beetles; but the Lamiids are distinguished by
having the fore tibiae obliquely grooved on the inner side,
and the last segment of the palpi cylindrical and pointed.
The following are some of the more important species: —
The Sawyer, Monokammus confusor (Mon-o-ham'mus
con-fu'sor). — This beautiful brown and gray beetle is about
an inch and a quarter long, with antennae as long as the
body in the case of the female and twice as long in
the case of the male (Fig. 696). The larva bores in

the sound wood of
pine and of fir, mak¬
ing a hole, when
full grown, one half
inch in diameter.
The pupa state is
passed within the
burrow. It some¬
times occurs in such
numbers as to kill
the infested trees.

The Round-
headed Apple-tree

Fig. 696.

COLEOPTERA .

573

Borer, Saperda Candida (Sa-per'da can 'di-da). — Excepting the
Codlin-moth, which infests the fruit, this is the worst enemy
of the apple that we have. Its common name is used to dis¬
tinguish it from the Flat-headed Apple-tree Borer, already
described, the larva of this species being nearly cylindrical
in form (Fig. 690). The eggs are laid on the bark at the
base of the tree late in June or July. The larva at first
bores in the soft sap-wood, making a disk-shaped mine ; after
this it works in an upward direction in the harder wood, and
at the close of its larval existence comes to the surface
several inches above the place it entered. It requires
nearly three years for this larva to attain its growth; it
changes to a pupa, near the upper end of its burrow, about
the middle of May, and emerges as a beetle in June. The
beetle (Fig. 697) is of a pale-brown color above, with two

Fig. 698.

Fig. 699.

Fig. 697.

broad, white stripes extending the whole length of the body.
Although the larva is found chiefly in apple, it infests many
other trees.

The Two-spotted Oberea, Oberea bimaculata (O-ber'e-a bi-
mac-u-la'ta), is sometimes a serious pest, boring in the canes
of blackberry and raspberry. The larva resembles that of
the preceding species. The adult (Fig. 698) is about one
half inch in length and of a deep-black color, except the
prothorax, which is yellow. There are usually two or three
black spots on the pronotum, but frequently these are
wanting.

574

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

The Red Milkweed-beetles, Tetraopcs (Tet-ra-o'pes). —
There are several species of bright-red beetles that are com¬
mon on milkweeds ( Asclepias ). These belong to the genus
Tetraopes . Our most common species (Fig. 699) is T. tetra -
ophthalmus (T. tet-ra-oph-thal'mus). In this species there
are four black spots on each wing-cover, and the antennae
are black, and not ringed with a lighter color. The larva
bores in the roots and the lower parts of the stems of milk¬
weeds.

Family CHRYSOMELIDS (Chrys-o-mel'i-das).

The Leaf-beetles or Chrysomelids ( Ch rys-o-me' lids).

The Leaf-beetles are so called because they feed upon
the leaves of plants both as larvae and adults. They are
usually short-bodied, and more or less oval in outline ; the
antennae are usually of moderate length ; and the front is
not prolonged into a beak. The legs are usually short, and
are furnished with tarsi of the same type as those of the
preceding family (see Fig. 689, p. 567).

Although we are unable to cite any characteristic that
will invariably distinguish these beetles from the preceding
family, the student will rarely have any difficulty in making
the distinction. The beetles of the genus Donacia, described
below, are the only common ones that are liable to be mis¬
placed. In other cases the more or less oval form of the
body, the comparatively short antennae, and the leaf-feeding
habits will serve to distinguish the Chrysomelids.

The Leaf beetles are nearly all comparatively small,
the Colorado Potato-beetle being one of our larger spe¬
cies.

The eggs are usually elongated and yellowish, and are
laid upon the leaves or stems of the plants upon which the
larvae feed. Many of the larvae live exposed on the leaves
of plants ; others that live in similar situations cover them¬
selves with their excrement ; some are leaf-miners ; and a

COLEOPTERA. 575

few, as the Striped Squash-beetle, bore in the roots or stems
of plants.

This is a large family, of which about six hundred
North American species are known. The following il¬
lustrations will serve to show the variations in form and
habits :

The Long-horned Leaf-beetles, Donacia (Do-na'ci-a). —
These are the common Leaf-beetles that are liable to be
mistaken for Cerambycids. They are of elongated form,
with slender antennae (Fig. 700). They measure from a
quarter to a half inch in length, and are of a me-
tallic color — either greenish, bronze, or purplish.

The lower side of the body is paler, and is clothed
with very fine hair which serves as a water-proof j
coat when the insect is submerged. The larvae f«g. 700.
feed upon the roots or in the stems of aquatic plants ; and
the adults are found on the leaves of the same plants. We
have many species, but they resemble each other so closely
that it is difficult to separate them.

The Three-lined Lema, Lema trilineata (Le'ma tri-lin-e-
a'ta). — This insect is common, feeding on the leaves of
potato. The beetle is a quarter of an inch long, yellow,
with three black stripes on the wing-covers. The eggs are
laid in small clusters on the leaves. The larvae feed on the
leaves, and can be easily recognized by a habit they have
of covering their backs with their own excrement. They
transform in the ground in earthen cells. There are two
broods each year ; the second hibernates in the ground as
pupae.

The Asparagus-beetle, Crioceris asparagi (Cri-oc'e-ris as^
par'a-gi). — This is a small, red, yellow, and black beetle, that
gnaws holes into the heads of young asparagus, and lays oval,
black eggs upon them. The larvae, which are small, brown,
slug-like grubs, also feed upon the young heads in the
spring, and later in the season a second brood feed upon
the full-grown plant. Figure 701 represents a head of as-

576

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

paragus bearing the eggs of this beetle, also a beetle and a
larva enlarged. The beetle measures about a quarter of an
inch in length. Where this pest occurs
care should be taken to destroy all wild
asparagus. This will force the beetles to
lay their eggs upon the shoots that are
cut for market. The larvse hatching
from such eggs will not have a chance
to mature.

The Colorado Potato-beetle, Do¬
ry phor a dccemlineata (Do-ryph'o-ra dec-
em-lin-e-a'ta). — A good many insect
tramps have come to us from Europe
and from Australia, and appropriated
whatever pleased them of our grow¬
ing crops or stored grain. But two of
our worst insect pests have swarmed
out on us in hordes from their strongholds in the
region of the Rocky Mountains. These are the Rocky
Mountain Locust and the Colorado Potato-beetle
(Fig. 702). The latter insect dwelt near the base
of the Rocky Mountains, feeding upon the sand-
burr ( Solatium rostratum ), until about the year
1859. At this time it began to be a pest in the
potato-fields of the settlers in that region. Having acquired
the habit of feeding upon the cultivated potato, it began its
eastward march across the continent, spreading from potato
patch to potato patch. At first the migration took place at
about the rate of fifty miles a year, but later it was more
rapid ; and in 1874 the insect reached the Atlantic
coast.

The Three - spotted Doryphora, Doryphora
clivicollis (D. cliv-i-col'lis). — This resembles the
Colorado potato-beetle in size and form. It is
of a deep-blue color, except the wing-covers, which are
orange, with three dark-blue spots on each (Fig. 703).

Fig. 702.

Fig. 703.

COLEOPTERA.

577

There is considerable variation in the size and shape of
these spots ; frequently the two near the base of the wing-
covers are joined so as to make a continuous band extend¬
ing across both wing-covers. The larva feeds on milkweed
(Asclepias).

The Diabroticas. — Several very important pests belong
to the genus Diabrotica (Di-a-brot'i-ca). In the East they
are known as cucumber-beetles ; but on the Pacific coast,
where they are more feared on account of their injuries to
fruit and fruit-trees, they are commonly called the Dia¬
broticas. They are chiefly greenish-yellow beetles, marked
with black stripes or spots. The Striped Diabrotica, D.
vittata (D. vit-ta'ta), has two black stripes on each wing-
cover. The adult feeds on the leaves of cucumber, squash,
and melon ; and the larva, which is a slender, worm-like
creature, bores in the stems and roots of the same plants.
The Twelve-spotted Diabrotica, D. duodecimpunctata (D.
du-od-e-cim-punc-ta'ta), and Diabrotica soror (D. so'ror),
agree in having six black spots on each wing-cover (Plate t
Fig. 2). The former is very common in the East; the
latter occurs on the Pacific coast, and is the most destructive
of all of the Diabroticas. Diabrotica longicornis (D. lon-gi-
cor'nis) is a grass-green species, which feeds on the pollen
and silk of corn and on the pollen of other plants. Its
larva is known as the corn root-worm ; it is very destructive
to corn in the Mississippi Valley. Its injuries are greatest
where corn is grown on the same land year after year ;
hence a rotation of crops should be practised where this pest
is troublesome. The other species of Diabrotica mentioned
above are difficult to combat, as the leaves of cucumber,
melon, and squash are very apt to be injured by the use of
arsenical poisons. The most practicable way of protecting
these vines is to cover them while young with frames cov¬
ered with netting. Where they infest fruit-trees they can
be fought with Paris-green ; but this poison must be used

with great care on such trees as prune and apricot. Squashes
38

57*

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

should not be grown in orchards, as is sometimes done in
California.

The Flea-beetles. — There is a group of leaf-beetles, of
which we have many species, in which the hind legs are
fitted for leaping, the thighs being very large. These are
commonly called the flea-beetles.

The Striped Flea-beetle, Phyllotreta vittata (Phyl-lo-tre'ta
* vit-ta'ta), is exceedingly common on cabbage,
turnip, radish, mustard, and allied plants. It is
jTK&nri a small, black, shining beetle, with a broad, wavy,
pale, dull-yellow stripe upon each wing-cover
. Jw'C (Fig. 704); it measures about one tenth of an

Fig. 704. inch in length. These beetles eat numerous little
pits in the thicker leaves that they infest, and minute
perforations in the thinner-leaved plants. The larva is a
slender, white worm, about one third inch in length ; it feeds
on the roots of the plants infested by the adult. The adult
beetles can be destroyed with kerosene emulsion.

The Cucumber Flea-beetle, Crepidodera cucumeris (Crep-i-
dod'e-ra cu-cum'e-ris), is a common pest of melon and
cucumber vines ; it also attacks the leaves of potato, rasp¬
berry, turnip, cabbage, and other plants. This is a minute
black species, measuring less than one twelfth of an inch in
length. The body is finely punctured, and clothed with a
whitish pubescence; there is a deep transverse furrow across
the hinder part of the prothorax; the antennae are dull
yellow, and the legs are of the same hue, except the posterior
femora, which are brown. The adult beetles feed on the leaves
of plants in the same manner as the preceding species ; but
the larva is a miner, feeding within the substance of the
leaves of the infested plants.

The Steel-blue Flea-beetle, Haltica chalybea (Hal'ti-ca
cha-lyb'e-a). — This is a larger species than the two preced¬
ing, measuring from one sixth to one fifth inch in length,
and is of a dark steel-blue color. It is a great pest in
vineyards, eating into the buds of grape in early spring,

COLEOPTERA.

579

and later gnawing holes into the leaves (Figs. 705 and

706). In May and June the
brown, sluggish larvae may
also be found feeding upon
the upper surface of the
leaves. The full-grown larva
is chestnut -brown, marked
with black spots. The beetles
can be destroyed in early
spring by jarring them from
the vines onto a sheet wet
with kerosene ; use for this
purpose a piece of sheeting
several yards long, with a
stick fastened to each end so that it
can be easily moved from vine to
vine.

The Wedge-shaped Leaf-beetles. —
These insects are characterized by the
peculiar form of the body, which is
narrow in front and broad behind. In

f

Fig. 705.

Fig. 706.

most of the species the body is much roughened by deep pits ;
and usually the pits on the wing covers are in regular rows.
These insects and the tortoise-beetles differ from other leaf-
beetles in having the fore part of the head prominent, so that
the mouth is confined to the under surface. Some of the larvae

580

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

feed externally upon leaves and bear a parasol composed of
their excrement ; other species are leaf-miners. Odontota
- rubra (Od-on-to'ta ru'bra) is a good repre-

'"l V f sentative of this group (Fig. 707). It varies
in length from one eighth to one fifth of an
inch. It is of a reddish color, with the
elevated portions of the elytra more or less
spotted with black. The larva mines in the
Fig. 707. leaves of apple, forming a blotch-mine; the
transformations are undergone within the mine. We have
also found this species mining the leaves of basswood in
great numbers.

The Tortoise-beetles . — Among the more beautiful Coleop-
tera are certain bright, golden, green, or iridescent beetles
found on the leaves of sweet-potato, morning-glory, nettle,
and other plants. In these beetles the body is flattened
below and convex above ; the head is nearly or quite con¬
cealed beneath the prothorax ; and the margins of the
prothorax and elytra are broadly expanded, forming an
approximately circular or oval outline, and suggesting a
resemblance to the shell of a tortoise. Not all of the
species are iridescent ; and in the case of those that are,
the brightness of the colors are said to depend on the
emotions of the insect. What a beautiful way to express
one’s feelings— to be able to glow like melted gold when one
is happy! Unfortunately for the beauty of our collections,
these bright colors disappear after the death of the insect.

The larvae of the tortoise-beetles are flattened, and have
the margin of the body fringed with spines. At the caudal
end of the body there is a forked appendage which serves
a very strange purpose. This fork is bent forward over the
back, and to it are attached the cast-off skins of the larva and
its excrement; these constitute a parasol. When about to
change to the pupa state these larvae fasten the caudal end of
the body to the under side of a leaf ; the skin then splits open,
and is forced back to this end of the body, where it remains.

i

COLEOPTERA. 58 1

The One-dotted or Five-dotted Tortoise, Physonota uni-
punctata (Phys-o-no'ta u-ni-punc-ta'ta). — The largest of our
bright-colored tortoise-beetles is common in midsummer,
feeding on the leaves of wild sunflower. It measures from
three eighths to one half inch in length, and is yellow, with
the margins whitish. On the prothorax there are five black
dots — two close together in front, and three more widely
separated behind. Sometimes all but one of these dots are
wanting. It was this form that was first described, hence
the name unipunctata. We have found the larvae abundant
in July on the same plant with the adults.

Most of our species of tortoise-beetles are of moderate
size, measuring about one fourth inch or even
less in length. These represent two genera,

Cassida (Cas'si-da) and Coptocycla (Cop-toc'y-
cla). These genera can be separated by the
length of the antennas, which extend beyond Fig. 708.
the base of the prothorax in the latter (Fig. 708), but do not
in the former.

The Argus-tortoise, Chelymorpha argus (Chel-y-mor'pha
ar'gus), is a large brick-red species, which measures from
three eighths to seven sixteenths of an inch in length, and
has the prothorax and wing-covers marked with many black
spots. This species feeds on milkweed ( Asclepias ).

Family BRUCHlDiE (Bru'chi-dae).

The Pea-weevil Family .

These are small beetles, the larvae of which live in the
seeds of leguminous plants. The head of the
adult is prolonged into a broad beak ; and the
J wing-covers are rather short, so that the tip of
the abdomen is always exposed (Fig. 709).

The Pea-weevil, Bruchus pisi (Bru'chus pi'si). —
fig. 709. “ Buggy-peas ” are well known in most sections

of our country ; but just how the “ bugs ” find their way into

582

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

the peas is not so generally understood. The eggs of the
Pea-weevil are laid upon the pod while the peas are quite
small ; when the larvae hatch they bore through the pod
into the young peas. Here they feed upon the substance
of the seed, which ripens, however, and in some cases will
germinate when planted. The larva before transforming
eats a circular hole on one side of the seed, leaving only a
thin scale, which is easily pushed away by the mature beetle.
The adult is about one fifth inch in length ; it is dark brown,
with a few white spots on the wing-covers, and one on the
prothorax near the middle. Sometimes the beetles leave
the peas during the autumn or winter; but as a rule they
remain in the seed till spring, and are often planted with it.
Seed peas should be placed in water, and the infested ones,
which will float, should be picked out and destroyed. This
species is not known to oviposit on dry peas.

This and other grain-infesting insects can be destroyed
by placing the grain into a close receptacle with a small
quantity of bisulphide of carbon.

The Bean-weevil, Bruc/ius obtectus (B. ob-tec'tus). — This
species resembles the preceding quite closely; but it is a
little smaller (Fig. 709), and lacks the white markings char¬
acteristic of B. pisi. It infests beans, and often several indi¬
viduals inhabit a single bean. The eggs are laid within the
pod, being pushed through a slit which the female gnaws
through the pod. This species will oviposit on dry beans,
peas, and other grain, and will continue to breed for many
generations in stored beans and peas.

Family Tenebrionid^E (Te-neb-ri-on'i-dae).

The Darkling Beetles .

The darkling beetles are nearly all of a uniform black
color, although some are gray, and a few are marked with
bright colors. The different species vary greatly in size and

COLEOPTERa.

583

in the form of the body. As with the blister-beetles, the
hind tarsi are four-jointed, and the fore and middle tarsi
are five-jointed ; but unlike the members of that family, the
body and wing-covers are firm, and the head is narrower
than the prothorax.

These insects occur chiefly in dry and warm regions.
Thus while we have comparatively few species in the North¬
eastern United States, there are many in the Southwest.
Most of the species feed on dry vegetable matter, and often
on that which is partially decomposed; some live in dung,
some in dead animal matter, others in fungi, and a few
prey upon larvae. More than four hundred species occur in
this country. The three following will serve to illustrate
the variations in form and habits : —

The Meal-worm, Tenebrio molitor (Te-neb'ri-o mol'i-tor).
— This is a well-known pest in granaries and mills. The
larva is a hard, waxy-yellow, cylindrical worm, which meas¬
ures when full grown an inch or more in length, and
closely resembles a wire-worm ; it feeds on flour and
meal. The beetle is black, and about five eighths
of an inch in length (Fig. 710).

The Forked Fungus-beetle, Boletotherus bifur -
cits (Bol-et-o-the'rus bi-fur'cus), is common in the
Northeastern United States and in Canada about the large
toadstools ( Polyporus ) which grow on the sides of trees.
The surface of the body and wing-covers is very rough, and
the prothorax bears two prominent horns (Fig.
71 1). The larva lives within the fungi referred
to above.

The Pinacate-bugs (Pin-ah-cah'te-bugs). — Sev¬
eral species of Eleodes (El-e-o'des) are abundant
on the Pacific coast, where they are found under
stones and pieces of wood lying on the ground.
They are apt to congregate in large numbers under a single
shelter, and are clumsy in their movements. They defend
themselves when disturbed by elevating the hinder part of

584 the study of insects.

Fig. 712.

the body and discharging an oily fluid from it. They present
an absurd appearance, walking off clumsily,
and carrying the hind end of the body as high
as possible. The most common species are
large, smooth, club-shaped beetles (Fig. 712),
and are commonly known as Pinacate-bugs.
These beetles and those belonging to several
closely allied genera are wingless.

The family Aigialitid./E (yE-gi-a-lit'i-dae)
was founded upon a single species from Alaska;
recently another has been found in California.
The family CiSTELiDAS (Cis-tel'i-dae) in¬
cludes about fifty North American species, some of which
are quite common. These are brownish beetles, without
spots, which are found on leaves and flowers and under bark.
The body is usually elongate, elliptical, and quite convex.
They are most easily distinguished from allied families by
the tarsal claws being pectinate, and the anterior coxal cavities
closed behind. The larvae of some of our species at least live
in rotten wood and resemble wire-worms in appearance.

The family OTHNIID/E (Oth-ni'i-dae) is represented in our
territory by four species of Othnius (Oth'ni-us), one from
the East and three from the far West. They are small
beetles, which are found running actively on the leaves of
trees, and are probably predaceous. In this family the an¬
terior coxal cavities are closed behind, and none of the ab¬

dominal segments are grown together on the ventral side.

The family LAGRUDiE (La-gri'i-dae) includes only five
North American species, all of which are from the East, and
are found under bark and on leaves. They are elongate
beetles, with a narrow, subcylindrical prothorax, and
a more or less brassy color. Our most common spe¬
cies is Arthromacra eenea (Ar-thro-ma'cra ae'ne-a).

This species is nearly half an inch in length (Fig. 713).

The family Monommid^e (Mo-nom'mi-dae) is rep- Fig‘7X3,
resented in this country by a single genus, including four

COLEOPTERA .

585

species. They are small, black, oval, heteromerous beetles,
in which the anterior coxal cavities are open behind ; and
in which the antennae are received in grooves on the under
side of the prothorax.

The family MELANDRYIDiE (Mel-an-dry'i-dae) includes
about sixty North American species. These are found under
bark and in fungi. They .are usually of elongate form, al¬
though some, like the one figured here, are not so. The
maxillary palpi are frequently very long and much dilated ;
and the first segment of the hind tarsi is always
much elongated. Among our more common
species are two belonging to the genus Penthe
(Pen'the). These are rather large, oval, de¬
pressed beetles, upwards of half an inch in
length, and of a deep black color. Penthe obli- Fig. 7i4.
qnata (P. ob-li-qua'ta) is distinguished by having the scutel-
lum clothed with rust-red hairs (Fig. 714). Penthe pimelia
(P. pi mel'i-a) closely resembles this species, except that the
scutellum is black.

The family PYTHIDuE (Pyth'i-dae) includes less than a
score of North American species. Some of these live under
bark; others are found under stones. They are heteromer¬
ous beetles, in which the anterior coxal cavities are open
behind, the head is not strongly and suddenly constricted at
base, and the prothorax is not margined at the sides.

The family GEDEMERlDiE (CEd-e-mer'i-dae) is composed
of heteromerous beetles of moderate size, with elongate,
narrow bodies. The head and prothorax are somewhat nar¬
rower than the wing-covers ; the antennae are long, nearly
filiform, sometimes serrate; the anterior coxal cavities are
open behind, and the middle coxae are very prominent.
Less than fifty North American species have been de¬
scribed. They are generally found on plants, but some live
on the ground near water.

The family CEPHALOIDiE (Ceph-a-lo'i-dae) includes only
a single genus, which is represented in this country by but

586

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

three species. These are heteromerous beetles, which can
be easily recognized by the characters given in the table of
families.

The family MORDELLID^E (Mor-del'li-dae) includes a large
number of small beetles, which are easily recognized by
their peculiar form (Fig. 715). The body is arched,
the head being bent down ; and the abdomen is
fig. 715. usually prolonged into a slender point. Our most
common species are black ; but many are variegated, and
all are pubescent. The adults are usually found on flowers ;
the larvae live in rotten wood and in the pith of various
plants, upon which they are supposed to feed.

The family ANTHICID^E (An-thic'i-dae) includes beetles of
moderate or minute size. The head is strongly constricted
behind the eyes, and the neck is slender; the prothorax is
narrower than the wing-covers at base. Many of the beetles
live on flowers and leaves ; but some are found near the
margin of water. Our most common species belong to the
genus Notoxus (No-tox'us), in which the prothorax is pro¬
longed over the head into a horn.

The family PYROCHROIDiE (Pyr-o-chro'i-dae) includes a
small number of beetles, which are from one
third to three fourths of an inch in length. The
body is elongate ; the head and prothorax are
narrower than the wing-covers; the antennae are
serrate or subpectinate in the females and usually
flabellate in the males (Fig. 716). The beetles Fig. 716.
are found about decaying trees, beneath the bark of which
the larvae live.

Family MELOID.E (Me-lo'i-dae).

The Blister-beetles.

The blister-beetles are of medium or large size. The
body is comparatively soft ; the head is broad, vertical, and
abruptly narrowed into a neck ; the prothorax is narrower

COLEOPTERA.

587

than the wing-covers, which are soft and flexible ; the legs
are long and slender; the hind tarsi are four-jointed, and
the fore and middle tarsi are five-jointed.

These beetles are found on foliage and on flowers, on
which they feed in the adult state; some of the species are
very common on goldenrod in the autumn ; and several
species feed on the leaves of potato.

The blister-beetles are so called because they are used
for making blister-plasters. The beetles are killed, dried,
and pulverized, and the powder thus obtained is made into
a paste, which when applied to the skin produces a blister.
The species most commonly used is a European one. com¬
monly known as the Spanish-fly ; but our American species
possess the same blistering property.

The transformations of blister-beetles are remarkable ;
not only do these insects undergo wonderful changes in
form, but the number of these changes is greater than is
usual with insects. On this account their mode of develop¬
ment is termed hypermetamorphosis.

The beetles lay their eggs in the ground. The newly-
hatched larva is active, running about in search of its food,
which consists, in some species, of the eggs of locusts, in
others of the egg and honey of some solitary bee.

In the case of those species that live in the nests of bees
the larva finds its home in a curious way. Instead of hunt¬
ing for a nest it merely climbs a plant, and remains near a
flower till it has a chance to seize hold of a bee visiting the
flower. The larva clings to the bee until she goes to her
nest, then, letting go of the bee, it remains in the cell and is
shut up there with the egg of the bee and the store of food
which she provides for her young. The beetle larva then
devours the egg; after which it moults and undergoes a
change of form, becoming a clumsy creature, which feeds
upon the honey. Several other changes in form occur be¬
fore the beetle reaches the adult stage.

The wonderful instinct by which the larvae of these

588

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

blister-beetles find their way to the nests of solitary bees
has not yet reached perfection ; for many of the larvae at¬
tach themselves to flies, wasps, honey-bees, and other flower-
visiting insects, and merely gain useless transportation
thereby.

Nearly two hundred species of blister-beetles have been
found in this country. The majority of our common species
belong to the genera named below.

Meloe . — The beetles of this genus present an exception
to the characters of the Coleoptera, in that the wing-covers,
instead of meeting in a straight line down the
middle of the back, overlap at the base (Fig.
717). These wing-covers arc short, and the
wings are lacking. These beetles are called
oil-beetles in England, on account of the yel¬
lowish liquid which oozes from their joints in

Fig, 717. large drops when they are handled. Our
most common species is the Buttercup Oil-beetle, Meloe
angusticollis (Mel'o-e an-gus-ti-col'lis). It may be found in
meadows and pastures feeding on the leaves of various
species of buttercups.

Nemognatha . — The species of the genus Nemognatha
(Ne-mog'na-tha) are remarkable for having the maxillae
developed into a long sucking-tube, which is sometimes as
long as the body, and which resembles somewhat the suck¬
ing-tube of a butterfly. A similar modification of the
maxillae occurs in the genus Gnathium (Gnath'i-um), which
differs from Nemognatha in having a slight thickening of the
outer segments of the antennae. The species of these two
genera occur chiefly in the South and West.

Our most common species of blister-beetles in the East
belong to the genus Epicauta (Ep-i-cau'ta). These insects
feed in the adult state upon the leaves of potato, and upon
the pollen of goldenrod ; the larvae, so far as is known, are
parasitic in the egg-cases of locusts. The Pennsylvania
Blister-beetle, Epicauta pennsylvanica , (E. penn-syl-van'i-ca),

COLEOPTERA . 589

is of a uniform black color (Fig. 718). Epicauta cinerea (E.
ci-ne're-a) is sometimes clothed throughout with
an ash-colored pubescence, and sometimes the
wing -covers are black, except a narrow gray
margin ; the two varieties were formerly consid¬
ered distinct species: the first is commonly known
as the ash-colored Blister-beetle, the last as the
Margined Blister-beetle. Another common spe- F,c- ?l8-
cies is the Striped Blister-beetle, Epicauta vittata (E. vit-ta'-
ta) ; this species is yellowish or reddish above, with the head
and prothorax marked with black, and with two black
stripes on each wing-cover.

In the far West very many species of blister-beetles
occur — so many, in fact, that we cannot undertake to specify
them here.

The family RHIPIPHORID.E (Rhip-i-phor'i-dae) includes
a small number of beetles, which are very remarkable in
structure and habits. The wing-covers are usually shorter
than the abdomen, and narrowed behind (Fig. 719); sometimes
they are very small, and in one exotic genus they
are wanting in the female, which lacks the wings also,
and resembles a larva in form. The antennae are
fig. 719- pectinate or flabellate in the males, and frequently
serrate in the females. The adult insects are found on
flowers. The larvae that are known are parasites, some in
the nests of wasps, and some on cockroaches.

The family STYLOPID/E (Sty-lop'i-dae) includes a small
number of minute insects which differ so much from ordi¬
nary beetles that they have been classed by some writers as
a distinct order, the Strepsiptera (Strep-sip'te-ra). In the
males the elytra are reduced to slender, leathery, club-shaped
appendages; while the wings are very large, fan-shaped, and
furnished with a few diverging veins. The females have
neither wings nor elytra, and resemble a larva in form.
They are always contained in the pupa case in the body of
a wasp or bee, which they infest parasitically. The point

590

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

of attack of these parasites is between two abdominal
segments of the host. The presence of one of these para¬
sites is indicated by an irregularity in the outline of the
abdomen of the infested wasp or bee ; and, too, the heads
of the pupa cases of the parasites can be seen project¬
ing from the suture, “The head of the pupa case of the
male is convex, that of the female is flat ; specimens con¬
taining male pupae can be kept confined with proper
food until the parasite is hatched.” (Le Conte and Horn.)
Two genera occur in this country, Stylops (Sty'lops),
which infests bees of the genus Andrena (An-dre'na), and
Xe?ios (Xe'nos), which infest wasps of the genus Polistes( Po¬
lishes). Certain foreign genera infest ants, cockroaches, and
homopterous insects.

Suborder RHYNCHOPHORA (Rhyn-choph'o-ra).

The Snout-beetles .

This suborder includes the insects commonly called
snout-beetles, of which ten families are represented in North
America. With these insects the head is more or less
prolonged into a beak, which is sometimes longer than the re¬
mainder of the body. The most distinctive characteristics of
this suborder are the absence of the gula, there being only
a single gular suture (Fig. 720,^), and the fact that the
epimera of the prothorax meet on the middle
line behind the prosternum (Fig. 720).

A monograph of the North American
species of this suborder by Le Conte and Horn
is published by the American Philosophical So¬
ciety, Philadelphia.

The family RHIN0MACERID,E (Rhin-o-ma.

Fig. 720. cer'i-dee) includes a small number of Snout-
beetles in which the elytra have no fold on the lower sur¬
face near the outer edge, but in which the labrum is distinct.
The head is prominent, not deflexed ; the snout is as long as
the prothorax, rather flat, narrowest about the middle, wider

COLEOPTERA.

591

at base and tip ; the elytra are rounded at the tip and en¬
tirely cover the abdomen. These beetles infest the stami-
nate flowers of coniferous trees, in which the eggs are laid.

The family RHYNCHiTlDAi (Rhyn-chit'i-dae) includes
Snout-beetles in which the elytral fold is very feeble, the la-
brum is wanting, and in which the mandibles are toothed
both on the outer and inner side. The mandibles can be
spread widely, and when closed the outer tooth at the end
of each projects forward so that two small acute teeth seem
to project from the mouth.

The most common member of this family is Rhynchites
bicolor (Rhyn-chi'tes bi'co-lor) (Fig. 721). This is red above,
except the snout, and black below ; the body, not in-
eluding the snout, is about one fourth inch long,
the snout is half that length,
abundant on wild roses.

The adults are often

Fig.

721.

The family ATTELABID,E (At-te-lab'i-dae), or Leaf-rolling
Weevils is composed of beetles that have neither an elytral
fold nor a labrum, and in which the mandibles are flat,
pincer-shaped, and toothed on the inner side. The elytra do
not entirely cover the abdomen, and each is separately
rounded at the tip. Only five species are known from this
country, four from the Atlantic States, and one from New
Mexico; all belong to the genus Attelabus (At-tel'a-bus).
The females provide for their young in a very remarkable
way. They make compact thimble-shaped rolls from the
leaves of trees (Fig. 722) and lay a single egg in each.
K|jj The larvae feed on the inner parts of these rolls, and
when full grown enter the ground to transform.
Xg/ Sometimes these rolls are found hanging by a narrow
Fig. 7«. piece to the leaf from which they were made, and
sometimes they are found lying on the ground separated
from the leaf.

The family Byrsopid^E (Byr-sop'i-dae) is represented in
North America by a single species, Tltecesternus hnmcralis

592

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

(Thec-e-ster'nus hu-mer-a'lis), of the central portion of the
United States. It usually lives near the surface of the
ground, but has been found attacking grape-vines and hick¬
ory. It is a grayish beetle, one third to one half inch in
length, and with its wing-covers roughened by rows of tu¬
bercles. Its distinctive structural characters are given in
the table of families.

Family OTlORHYNCHlD,£ (O-ti-o-rhyn'chi-dae).
The Scarred Snout-beetles.

This is one of the larger of the families of snout-beetles,
including more than one hundred North American species.
The most distinctive characteristic of these insects is the
presence in the pupa state, and sometimes also in recently
matured adults, of an appendage on each mandible, and in
the adult state of a scar indicating the place from which the
appendage has fallen. This scar is on the anterior face of
the mandible, and frequently at the tip of a slight process.
Many species of this family are beautifully ornamented with
scales which resemble in a striking manner the scales on
the wings of butterflies. Among the more important species

are the following :

Fuller’s Rose-beetle, Aramigus fulleri (A-ram'i-gus ful'le-
ri). — This is an oval, black snout-beetle, lightly covered with
dark-brown scales, and about one fourth inch in
X length. It is very destructive to roses ; the
WiV larvae feed upon the roots, and the adults de-
stroy the leaves, flowers, and buds. In Cali-
£°rnia it is sometimes a pest in orange-groves.
r The Imbricated Snout-beetle, Epiccerus inu

bricatus (Ep-i-cae'rus im-bri-ca'tus) is usually a
Fig. 723. dull, silvery-white beetle with brown markings ;
but the species is quite variable in color. It is represented
somewhat enlarged by Figure 723. It is omnivorous, gnaw¬
ing holes in various garden vegetables and fruits, and in the
bark of trees and shrubs.

COL E OP TER A*

593

Family CURCULIONID^E (Cur-cu-li-on'i-dae).

The Curculios ( Cur-cu'H-os ) or Weevils .

The Curculionidae is the most important of the families
of snout-beetles ; it includes more than one half of all the
Rhynchophora found in this country, and some of the most
destructive insect pests. In this family there is on the
lower side of each wing-cover a strong fold near the outer
margin, which limits a deep groove in which the upper edge
of the abdomen fits; the mandibles have no scar; the
antennae are usually elbowed, and have a ringed or solid
club; the tarsi are usually dilated, with the third segment
bilobed and spongy beneath ; in a few cases the tarsi are
narrow, but not spinose beneath.

The larvae are soft, white, maggot-like grubs destitute of
feet. They feed chiefly on fruits, seeds, and nuts ; but all
parts of plants are subject to their attacks.

In laying her eggs, the female first bores a hole with her
snout, then drops an egg into this hole, and finally pushes
the egg to the bottom of the hole with her
snout. In many species the snout is highly
developed for this purpose ; sometimes it is
twice as long as the remainder of the body.

This is well shown in the acorn-weevils and
the nut-weevils, which belong to the genus
Balaninus (Ba-lan'i-nus). Figure 724 repre¬
sents Balaninus quercus (B. quer'cus) resting Fic* 7*4-
on an acorn ; the specimen figured, when found had her snout
inserted in the acorn up to the antennae.

Of the closely allied species B. rectus (B. rec'tus) breeds
in acorns, B . nasicus (B. na-si'cus) in hickory-nuts, and B.
caryatrypes (B. car-y-a-try'pes) in chestnuts.

Probably the most important member of this family from
an economic standpoint is the Plum Curculio, Conotrcichelus
nenuphar (Con-o-tra-che'lus nen'u-phar). This is the insect
that stings plums, often destroying a large proportion of the
39

594

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

fruit ; the larva is also the well-known grub or “ worm 99
of “ wormy ” cherries. The presence of this insect in an
orchard can be determined early in the season by a peculiar
mark it makes when laying its eggs in the young fruit. The
female beetle makes an incision, with her snout, through
the skin of the fruit. In this incision she lays a single egg,
which she pushes with her snout to the bottom of the cav¬
ity that she has prepared. She then makes a crescent¬
shaped incision in front of the one containing the egg. This
last cut undermines the egg, leaving it in a little flap. The
larvse feed within the fruit. In the case of plums the in¬
fested fruit falls to the ground ; but not so with cherries.
When full grown the larvae usually go into the ground to
transform ; a few transform within the fruit. This species
infests nectarines, apricots, and peaches as well as plums
and cherries. This insect is fought in two ways : the
beetles are jarred from the trees upon sheets in early spring,
and destroyed before they have laid their eggs ; they are
also poisoned by spraying the trees with Paris-green-water
before the fruit is large enough for them to oviposit in it
The adult beetle feeds upon the foliage, and can thus be
poisoned.

As yet this species does not occur on the Pacific coast,
and the greatest care should be taken that it be not intro¬
duced there.

The Apple-weevil, Anthonomus quadrigibbus (An-thon'o-
musquad-ri-gib'bus), infests the fruit of apple. The specific
name was suggested by the fact that there are two wart-like
projections near the hinder end of each wing-cover.

The Strawberry-weevil, Anthonomus signatus (A. sig-
na'tus), is sometimes a serious pest in strawberry
plantations. The adult beetle (Fig. 725) punctures
Fig. 725. the pedicel of the flower a short distance below the
ouds, and lays her eggs within the buds. The buds drop to
the ground, and the larvae, one in each, develop within them.

The family BRENTHIDiE (Bren'thi-dae) is confined chiefly

CO LEO P TER A .

S9S

to tropical regions, and, except in the far South, only a single
species occurs in this country. This species is the Northern
Brenthid, Eupsalis nttnuta (Eurpsa-lis mi-nu ta), which is
represented by Figure 726. In the female the head is pro¬
longed into a slender snout; but in the male
the snout is broad and flat, and is armed with a
pair of powerful jaws. These are weapons of
offence, for the males fight desperately for their
mates; and, too, the males are generally larger
than the females — an unusual occurrence among FlG- ?26*
insects. It is interesting, as has been pointed out by Mr.
A. R. Wallace in his “Malay Archipelago,” “as bearing on
the question of sexual selection, that in this case, as in the
stag-beetles, where the males fight together, they should
be not only better armed, but also much larger than the
females.”

The Northern Brenthid is found upon oak-trees, in the
solid wood of which the larvae bore, and is widely distributed
over the United States and Canada.

One species of Brent hus is found in Southern Florida
and two in Lower California. In this genus the snout is
slender in both sexes.

The only other representative of this family that occurs
on this continent north of Mexico is the Sweet Potato Root-
borer, Cylas formicarius (Cy'las for-mi-ca'ri-us), of Louisiana
and Florida. This beetle is somewhat ant-like in form ; the
color of the elytra, head, and snout is bluish black, that of
the prothorax reddish brown.

Family CALANDRIDiE (Ca-lan'dri-dae).

The Bill-bugs .

To this family belong some of our most common snout-
beetles. Here the lateral edge of the metathorax and of
the abdomen fits into a groove in the wing-cover, and the
surface of the wing-cover in this groove has a pearly lustre;

596

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

the pygidium of both sexes is undivided, and may be cov*
ered or uncovered by the wing-covers, but is not surrounded
at the edge by them, as in the Scolytidae ; the tibiae are not
serrate ; the antennae are elbowed ; and the labrum is want¬
ing. The larvae of the larger species bore in the stems of
plants, while those of the smaller species infest grains and
seeds.

Among the more common members of this family are
several species of the genus Sphenophonis (Sphe-noph'o-rus) ;
one of these is represented by Figure 727. These are
of medium or rather large size, and are often marked
in a very characteristic manner by longitudinal,
elevated bands of darker color.

One of the most important members of the family,
Fig. 727. {rom an economic standpoint, is the Rice-weevil, Ca -
la?idra oryzce (Ca-lan'dra o-ry'za^). This is a small snout-
beetle, measuring only one fifth inch in length. It is usually
black, but sometimes it is of pale-chestnut color, or some
shade between the two. It is exceedingly abundant, espe¬
cially in the Southern States, where it does great injury to
stored grain of all kinds.

Family ScolytiDjE (Sco-lyt'i-dae).

The Engraver-beetles .

If the bark be pulled from dead branches or trunks
of trees, the inner layer and the sap-wood will be found
to be ornamented in many cases with burrows of more or
less regular form. These smoothly cut figures are the
mines of the engraver-beetles. Many kinds of these engrav¬
ings can be found, each characteristic of a particular kind of
engraver-beetle. A common pattern is shown in Figure 728.

The beetles that do this work are mostly of cylindrical
form and of small size ; many species are almost microscopic,
and the larger ones rarely exceed a quarter of an inch in
length. They are usually brown, sometimes black; and

COLE OP TER A.

S97

with many the hind end of the body is very blunt, as if cut
off. The antennae are elbowed or bent in the middle, and
are clubbed at the tip; the tibiae are usually serrate ; the

Fig. 728.

pygidium is surrounded at the edge by the wing-covers,
which have the fold on the inner surface well developed.

The members of this family feed almost exclusively on
woody plants. Most of the species make burrows between
the bark and the wood ; but many species bore directly into
the solid wood, and one well-known pest lives in the roots
of herbaceous plants.

In the case of the kind of burrow figured above and other
similar ones the central tunnel is made by the mother
beetle. While doing this she makes a series of niches along
each side of this tunnel, and lays an egg in each. When the
larvae hatch, each one deepens its niche, and thus makes a
burrow at right angles to that of the parent beetle.

In the case of a European species, Tomicus typogra -
pirns (Tom'i-cus ty-pog'ra-phus), Dr. K. Lindeman, a Russian
naturalist, has discovered that the original tunnel is be¬
gun by the male, which makes a little chamber in the bark ;
afterwards the female comes to him in this chamber, and
later she continues the mine begun by her mate, making the
long central tunnel from which the tunnels of her offspring
extend. Thus we see that all of the members of a single
family have a share in making one of these engravings. It

5gS

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

is probable that the males of other species have similar
habits, but how general this is has not yet been determined.

The members of this family are among the most injuri¬
ous of the insect enemies of forest-trees. Frequently the
trees are killed outright ; in other cases, although the life of
the tree is not endangered, the timber is greatly injured by
the burrows. Occasionally fruit-trees are also injured by
members of this family.

Figure 729 represents one of the larger of our common
, species, Dendroctonus tenebrans (Den-droc'to-nus ten'e-
brans). This is a light-yellowish beetle, which
lives under the thick bark of pine logs and stumps.
It is about one fourth of an inch in length.

The Clover-root Borer, Hylesinus trifolii (Hy-
FlG* 729* les'i-nus tri-fo'li-i). — This is a European insect, which
has found its way to this country, and become a very serious
pest in the Eastern States. It differs markedly from most
of the members of this family in that it makes irregular
burrows in the roots of herbaceous plants. It infests clover
and allied plants. In many places in the East a large
proportion of the two-year-old clover plants are infested by
it. In the autumn larvae, pupae, and adults are found in the
roots of such plants, and the adults remain here throughout
the winter.

The family AntiiribiDjE (An-thrib'i-dae) includes a small
number of snout-beetles, in which the fold on the lower
surface of the wing-covers is present, the pygidium of both
sexes is undivided, the antennae are not elbowed, and the
labrum is present. The larvae, as a rule, infest seeds and
the stems of plants , some of them are said to have short but
well-developed legs. The larvae of the genus Brachytarsus
(Brach-y-tar'sus), which are very small, are supposed to be
parasitic on scale-insects.

CHAPTER XXII;

Order HYMENOPTERA (Hy-me-nop'te-ra).

Bees, Wasps, Ants , arid others.

The members of this order have four wings ; these are
membranous , and furnished with comparatively few or with
no transverse veins . The hind wings are smaller than the
fore wings . The mouth-parts are formed for biting and
sucking. The abdomen in the females is usually furnished
with a sting, piercer , or saw. The metamorphosis is complete .

The bees, wasps, and ants are among the better-known
insects, and will serve to give an idea of the characteristic
appearance of the members of this order. They are chiefly
insects of small or moderate size, and many of them
abound wherever flowers bloom. From the earliest times
they have been favorites with students of the habits of ani¬
mals, for among them we find the most wonderful develop¬
ments of instinctive powers. Many volumes have been
written regarding their ways, and much remains to be dis¬
covered, even concerning our most common species.

The name of the order is from two Greek words —
hymen , membrane, and pteron , a wing. It refers to the fact
that the wings are of a delicate membranous texture ; but
this characteristic is not distinctive, for it is possessed by
the wings of many other insects.

In the Hymenoptera the wings of each side are held to¬
gether by a row of hooks on the front margin of the hind

5QQ

Goo

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

wing. These hooks fasten to a fold in the hind margin of
the front wing, so that the two wings present a continuous
surface. (Fig. 730).

Fig. 730. — Wings of the honey-bee.

With other insects the mouth-parts, if well developed,
are formed either for biting or for sucking,
but in this order they are adapted to serve
both purposes (Fig. 731). The mandibles
are fitted for biting, and they are sometimes
very powerful. The maxillae, in the typical
members of the order, are long, membranous
or leathery, and form a sheath to the labium,
the three organs thus constituting an appara¬
tus for sucking or lapping liquid food. The
maxillary and the labial palpi are present.

The larvae of Hymenoptera are usually

' 1 J antenna; c, clypeus?

footless, maggot-like creatures, incapable of labrum; w. man-

00 7 r diblcs^ w.r, maxilla;

any extended motion, and entirely depend- ^5-^al PalPus- A
ent on the provision made for them by the
adult insects. But in the two lower families the larvae are
furnished with legs, and frequently have a striking resem
blance to caterpillars, both in form and in habits. When the
larvae are full grown they transform to inactive pupae, which

HYMENOPTERA

601

have all of the limbs of the adult insect inclosed in sheaths,
and folded upon the breast. With many species the larva,
before changing to a pupa, spins a cocoon about its body.
With some this cocoon is composed of comparatively loose
silk, and resembles somewhat the cocoon of a moth. In
others the cocoon is of a dense parchment-like texture, and
in still others it resembles a very delicate foil.

Although there are very many species of Hymenoptera,
the number of families is not large. The following synopsis
will aid the student in fixing in his mind the relationships
of the different families: —

SYNOPSIS OF THE HYMENOPTERA.

The Boring Hymenoptera, Suborder Terebrantia. p. 610.

The Plant-eating Hymenoptera .

The Saw-flics, Family Tenthredinid^E. p. 611.

The Horn-tails, Family SiriciDjE. p. 614.

The Gall-inhabiting Hymenoptera.

The Gall-flies, Family CYNiPiDiE. p 615.

The Parasitic Hymenoptera.

The Trigonalids, Family Trigonalid^e. p. 621.

The Ichneumon-flies, Family Ichneumonid^e. p. 621.

The Stephanids, Family Stephanid>e. p. 624.

The Braconids, Family BraconiDjE. p. 625.

The Ensign-flies, Family EvaniiD/E. p. 626.

The Chalcis-flies, Family Chalcidid^e. p. 628.

The Proctotrupids, Family PROCTOTRUPiDiE. p. 630.

The Stinging Hymenoptera, Suborder Aculeata. p. 631.

The Pelecinus, Family PELECiNimE. p. 631.

The Cuckoo-flies, Family Chrysidid.jE p. 632.

The Ants, Superfamily FORMICINA. p. 633.

Family FormiciDjE. p. 640.

Family Pon bridge, p. 642.

Family MYRMICimE. p. 642.

The Digger-wasps, Superfamily Sphecina. p. 644.

The Velvet-ants, Family M utillid-E. p. 648.

The Scoliids, Family ScoliiDjE. p. 649.

The Sapygids, Family Sapygid^e. p. 649.

The Spider-wasps, Family PoMPiLiDiE. p. 650.

602

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

The Thread-waisted Wasps, Family Sphecide. p. 650.

The Ampulicids, Family Ampulicide. p. 647.

The Larrids, Family Larride. p. 652.

The Bembecids, Family Bembecide. p. 652.

The Nyssonids, Family Nyssonide. p. 654.

The Philanthids, Family Philanthide. p. 654.

The Mimesids, Family Mimeside. p. 655.

The Mellinids, Family Mellinide. p. 647.

The Pemphredonids, Family Pemphredonide. p. 655.

The Crabronids, Family Crabronide. p. 656.

The True Wasps, Superfamily Vespina. p. 657.

The Guest Wasps, Family Masaride. p. 657.

The Solitary Wasps, Family Eumenide. p. 658.

The Social Wasps, Family Vespide. p. 660.

The Bees, Superfamily A pin A. p. 664.

The Short-tongued Bees, Family Andrenide. p. 665.

The Long-tongued Bees, Family Apide. p. 666.

Classification of the Hymenoptera.

(For Advanced Students.)

Nearly all of the technical terms used in the descriptions of
Hymenoptera in this work have been defined already. For a general
account of the external parts of these insects see pp. 56-66 ; for a
more detailed description of the external anatomy of an insect, see
the discussion of the external anatomy of beetles, pp. 499.

After a student has learned to recognize the sclerites in the body
wall of a beetle, he will have but little trouble in determining the
parts of a hymenopterous insect. The following points, however,
should be carefully noted : —

The Propodeu m. — A remarkable peculiarity of Hymenoptera is
that the first abdominal segment is united with the thorax in such a
way as to appear to be a part of it ; and what appears to be the first
abdominal segment, and is always called so, is really the sec¬
ond. The true first abdominal segment is called the propodeum
(pro-po'-de-um).

The Tegulce.— There is on each side of the second thoracic seg¬
ment a cup-like scale over the base of the fore-wing (Fig. 732, 5);
this is the parapteron (see p. 502). The paraptera of the meso-
thorax of Hymenoptera are termed the tegulce (teg'u-las) ; they cor¬
respond to the patagia of Lepidoptcra and to the elytra of
Coleoptera.

n Y MEN OP TER A.

603

The Parapstdes . — in this order the scutum ot the mesothorax is
divided into three parts by two longitudinal sutures ; the lateral por-

Fig. 732. A Chalcis-fly : 1. pronotum; 2, 2, parapsides; 3, mesal part of the scutum
the mesothorax ; 4, scutellum ; 5, tegulae.

of

tions of the scutum thus separated from the mesal part (Fig. 73 2, 2,2)
are termed the parapsides (pa-rap'si-des).

The Wing-veins . — It is much more difficult to determine the
homologies of the wing-veins of the Hymenoptera than those of
either the Lepidoptera or the Diptera; for in this order the primitive
plan is much more obscured. The best way to learn the wing-veins
of the Hymenoptera is to make first a careful study of those of the
Diptera, and then to compare the front wing of a generalized
hymenopterous insect with a wing of one of the more generalized
Diptera ; for this purpose take the front wing of a saw-fly of the
genus P amp hi Hus (Fig. 733) and that of Tabanus (Fig. 539, p. 454).

In Pamphilius (Pam-phil i-us), and in most other Hymenoptera
also, the anal furrow or vein VIII is easily recognized as a concave
fold, in the position indicated by the doited line (Fig. 733, VIII).
Having found this, a very important landmark is established.

Next it should be understood that the Hymenoptera belong to
that series of orders in which veins IV and VI are not developed;
therefore the veins that lie in front of the anal furrow are veins I, II,
III, V, and VII.

Vein I forms the costal border of the wing, as in the Diptera
(Fig. 733. I).

Vein II is usually absent in the Hymenoptera; but in Pamphilius ,
and in a few other genera, it is well preserved (Fig. 733, II). It is
simple, and is usually connected with vein III by a cross- vein.

Vein III is the most difficult of all of the veins to understand. A
very careful study of the problem has convinced the writer that this
vein is typically five-branched in this order, resembling in this re-

6c>4

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

spect the homologous veins in the Lepidoptera and Diptera. In the
Hymenoptera the tips of the branches of vein III coalesce with
other veins ; and when this coalescence has proceeded for a con- .
siderable distance towards the base of the wing, the branches may
appear like cross-veins, instead of branches of a longitudinal vein.
This result is very similar to what takes place in the more specialized
Diptera. In Pamphilus (Fig. 733) vein 1 1 In is wanting; but this vein
is present in Macroxyela (mac-rox-y-e'la) (Fig. 735)* km*1 of
these genera there is a cross-vein between veins 1 1 1 1 and Illa+a (Fig.

7 33, cv ). A similar cross-vein exists in some crane-flies, dividing cell

Fig. 733.— Wings of a saw-fly, Pavj/>hiliusy with the veins numbered.

IIIi into two parts (see Fig. 505). In both of these genera also the
tips of veins III« and II I6 coalesce with vein Vi to such an ex¬
tent that these veins appear to be cross- veins. In the wing of the
Honey-bee (Fig. 730) these veins are more obviously longitudinal
veins.

Vein V is very similar to the homologous vein in the Diptera. It
arises from a cross-vein extending from vein III to vein VII. In
Pamphilius it arises from near the costal end of this cross-vein; but
in Apis (Fig. 730) its origin is near the middle of the cross-vein. In
the Hymenoptera, however, the cross- vein 1 1 1— V 1 1 is much farther
from the base of the wing than it is in the Diptera. In the more

H YMENOP TER A.

605

generalized Hymenoptera vein V is three-branched, and veins Va and
V3 are connected by a cross-vein, as in the Diptera ; but this cross¬
vein appears like a longitudinal vein (Fig. 733). The tip of vein V3
has migrated from its primitive position on the outer margin of the
wing to the anal furrow (vein VIII), and ends in this furrow at a
greater or less distance from the margin of the wing (Fig. 733) ; the
result of this migration is to pull the cross-vein Va-V3 into a longi¬
tudinal position.

Vein VII coalesces with vein III for a considerable distance from
the base of the wing in Pamphilius (Fig. 733) ; but in Apis (Fig. 730),
and in many other forms, it arises from the base of the wing. This
vein is two-branched, as in the Lepidoptcra and Diptera. The tips
of the branches of vein VII have migrated from the margin of the
wing to the anal furrow (vein VIII), and for a considerable distance
along this furrow towards the base of the wing, so that both of these
veins (VIIi and VI I2) end in the anal furrow, far from the margin of
the wing; the result of this migration is to pull the cross-vein
V3-VIIi into a longitudinal position. In Pamphilius (Fig. 733) this
cross-vein is nearly longitudinal; in Apis (Fig. 7 30) it is completely
so. In Pamphilius vein VIIa is very short, but well enough de¬
veloped so that there is no doubt regarding the homology; but in
most Hymenoptera it has completely disappeared.

In the area lying back of the anal furrow there also exists a
tendency for veins to coalesce at their tips ; this is well shown in both
fore and hind wings of Pamphilius ; and in the hind wings especially
the united tips of veins IX and XI have migrated towards the base
of the wing along the anal furrow (Fig. 733).

The concave veins of the anal area (veins X and XII) are rarely
developed ; in the hind wing of Pamphilius there is a fold which
probably represents vein XII (Fig. 733).

The Cells of the JVi;tg. — Having learned the venation of the wings
it is easy to number the cells. There are, however, a few special
terms that are used in works on this order; the more important of
these are the following : —

In most Hymenoptera there is an opaque spot on the costa, a short
distance beyond the middle of the wing; this is the stigma (Figs. 734
and 735, s ). The stigma lies between vein 1 1 1 1 and the margin of the
wing ; it is probably the apical portion of cell II. In Figure 733 it has
not been blackened in order to show the course of vein IIIi.

Usually vein 1 1 1 1 , after joining the costa at the end of the stigma,
does not again separate from it, but is joined by the tip of vein III3
before the apex of the wing (Fig. 733). But in certain families the

6o6

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Fig. 734.— Wings of a saw-fly, Pamphilius , with the cells numbered.

1

HYMENOFTERA .

607

tip of vein III, separates from the costa and coalesces with the tip of
vein III, at some distance from the costa. The space thus formed
between the united tips of veins IIIi and Ilia and the costa is termed
the c ippendiculate cell (Fig. 736, ap).

Fig 736. Wings of Larra with the cells numbered: appendiculate cell.

The cells marked m, m, m, in Figure 735, are termed the marginal
cells ; and those marked sm, sm , sm, sm, the submargltial cells.

The following table for determining the families of the Hymen-
optera has been compiled from the works of several writers on this
order, and is merely provisional. It, however, will enable the student
to determine the larger and more common forms; and in the present
state of our knowledge the study of the minute Hymenoptera is too
difficult for the beginner.

TABLE FOR DETERMINING THE FAMILIES OF THE
HYMENOPTERA,

A. Trochanters of the posterior legs, consisting each of two segments
(Fig- 737* b) ; caudal end of body in the female furnished with a
saw or borer for depositing the eggs. (Suborder Terebrantia.)

B. Abdomen joined broadly to the thorax.

C. Anterior tibiae with two apical spurs ; abdomen of female fur¬
nished with a pair of saws. p. 611 . Tenthredinidje.

CC. Anterior tibiae with one apical spur ; abdomen of female fur¬

nished with a borer, p. 614

.Siricidje.

BB. Base of abdomen constricted.

C. Abdomen joined to the dorsal aspect of the metathorax, p. 626.

EVANIIDiE.

CC. Insertion of the abdomen normal.

D. Fore wings with no closed cells.*

* In a few Proctotrupidae the wings have one or more closed cells.

6o8

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

E. Borders of the mesoscutum intervening between the pro-
notum and the tegulae (Fig. 738) ; ovipositor issuing be¬
fore the apex of the abdomen, p. 628 . CHALCJDiDiE.

EE. Pronotum extending to the tegulae (Fig. 739) ; oviposi¬
tor issuing from the apex of the abdomen, p. 630.

PROCTOTRUPIDiE.

DD. Fore wings with several closed cells, or at least with a
closed or nearly closed marginal or submarginal cell.*

E. Fore wings without a stigma, p. 615 . Cynipid.e.

EE. Fore wings with a stigma.

F. Fore wing with the vein between cells Vi and 1st V3
wanting (Fig. 740).

G. Veins I— 1 1 1 of the fore wing consolidated from the
base of the wing to the stigma, p. 625 . . Braconide.
GG. Base of fore wing with a cell between veins I and

III. p. 624 . Stephanide.

FF. Fore wing with cells V» and 1st V3 separate (Fig. 741).
G. Veins I-1II of fore wing consolidated from the base
of the wing to the stigma, p. 621 . ..Ichneumonide.
GG. Base of fore wing with a cell between veins I and

III. p. 621 . Trigonalide.

AA. Trochanters of the posterior legs, consisting each of a single
segment (Fig. 737, a) ; caudal end of body in female usually fur¬
nished with a sting. (Suborder Aculeata.)

B. Fore wing with no closed submarginal cells.

C. Abdomen long; antennas long, not elbowed, threadlike ; body

smooth and polished, black, p. 631 . Pelecinide.

CC. Abdomen but little longer than the head and thorax ; an¬
tennae short, elbowed ; body adorned with metallic colors, and

often coarsely and deeply sculptured. 632 . Chrysidide.

BB. Fore wing with at least one closed submarginal cell.

C. First abdominal segment, and sometimes the second also,
forming a lens-shaped scale or knot (Fig. 742) ; base of front

wing not protected by a tegula. p. 633 . Formicina.

CC. Basal part of abdomen without a knot.

D. First segment of posterior tarsi cylindrical and naked, or
with but little hair; hairs clothing thorax simple.

E. Wings not plated when at rest. p. 644 . Sphecina.

* Very rarely the wings are without closed cells in some Evaniidai and
Braconidae.

H Y MEN OP TER A.

609

Fig. 738.— A Chalcis-fly: 1, pronotum; 2, 3, 2,
mesoscutum ; 5, tegula.

Fig. 741. — Wings of an Ichneumon-fly.

40

6io

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

EE. Wings folded in plaits when at rest * p. 657.

Vespina.

DD. First segment of the posterior tarsi enlarged, flattened,
and more or less clothed with hair ; hairs clothing thorax
plumose (Fig. 737, c). P- 664 . Apina,

Suborder TEREBRANTIA (Ter-e-bran'ti-a).

The Boring Hymenoptera .

The Hymenoptera are divided into two suborders, the
Boring Hymenoptera and the Stinging Hymenoptera. In
the first of these suborders the caudal end of the abdomen
of the female is furnished with an organ, the ovipositor,
which is fitted for boring a hole into which an egg is to be
placed, and also for conveying the egg into this hole. The
form of the ovipositor varies greatly in the different families ;
in one the boring parts are represented by a pair of saws, by
means of which slits are made in the leaves of plants and an
egg conveyed into each slit ; in other families this organ is
truly a boring instrument by means of which deep holes are
made into trees and eggs placed in these holes ; and in still
other cases the organ is fitted for thrusting an egg into the
body of another insect.

Although the ovipositor is very conspicuous in many
members of this suborder, there are others in which it is
more or less completely concealed within the body, and thus
affords but little aid to the student who is classifying his
specimens; moreover, in the case of male insects we must
always depend on some other character. Fortunately there
is another character by which the suborders can be separated.
In the Boring Hymenoptera the trochanter of the hind leg

* It is sometimes difficult, especially in the case of cabinet specimens
with the wings spread, to determine whether a species is one that folds its
wings or not. But we know of no other character which will always distin¬
guish the Vespina from the Sphecina. The following will often be of ser¬
vice: In all North American Vespina veins Va and V3 both arise from the
second submarginal cell; in many of the Sphecina they do not.

H 1 ’ME A OP TER A .

6ii

is composed of two segments (Fig. 737, b\ while in the
Stinging Hymenoptera it consists of a single segment.
There may be exceptions to this characterization among the
minute members of the Terebrantia ; but the beginning
student will hardly undertake the study of these.

Family TENTHREDINID,E (Ten-thre-din'i-dae;.

The Saw-flies .

In this family the head and thorax are wide ; the base
of the abdomen is not slender, as in most Hymenoptera, but
broadly joined to the thorax (Fig. 743, j) ; and the abdomen

Fig. 743-— The Locust saw-fly, Nematus similar is : a , egg ; 5, voun g larva ; c, full-
(p-own larva ; a, anal segment of full-grown larva ; e , cocoon ; / adult. (From the
Author’s Report for 1879.)

of the female is furnished with a pair of saws. The larvae
look like caterpillars and feed upon leaves (Fig. 743) ; but
they have, ordinarily, from twelve to sixteen prolegs, while

6l2

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

true caterpillars have only ten.* Most saw-fly larvae have
the curious habit of curling the hind end of the body side-
wise.

The saw-fly larvae make parchment-like cocoons which
they sometimes attach to the plants on which they have
fed ; but they often burrow in the ground and spin their co¬
coons there. The adult saw-fly lays its eggs upon the food
plant, and in some strange way, perhaps by the absorption
of moisture, the eggs increase in size before they hatch.
The saws of the female are set side by side in a groove un¬
der the end of the body like the blades of a penknife in the
handle. These saws can be shoved out and moved up and
down. Here we have at least one instance where the fe¬
male wielding of a saw is done most skilfully, for the female
saw-fly uses these nice tools in a very efficient manner to
make slits in the leaves and stems of plants in which she
places her eggs.

The American Saw-fly, Cimbex americana (Cim'bex
a-mer-i-ca'na).— This is the largest of our common saw-flies.
The female is about three fourths of an inch long and has a
black head and thorax, a steel-blue or purplish abdomen,
with four yellowish spots on each side, smoky brown wings,
and black legs, while her feet and short, knobbed antennae
are pale yellow. The male is longer and slenderer, and dif¬
fers somewhat in color. The eggs are laid in June in cres¬
cent-shaped slits made in leaves. The food plants are elm,
birch, linden, and willow. The larva is greenish yellow, with
black spiracles and a black stripe down its back. When dis¬
turbed it spurts forth a fluid from glands just above the
spiracles. There is but one brood each year. After the
larva is grown it burrows in the ground, makes an oval brown¬
ish cocoon, and there spends the winter, not changing to a
pupa until spring. The adult appears in May or J une. These
saw-flies have been known to injure willows by biting inci-

* Except in the Megalopygidae, see p. 219.

HYMENOPTERA . 613

sions half-way round the terminal twigs of the tree. What
their object was in doing this is a mystery.

The Rose-Slug, Monostegia roses (Mon-os-te'gi-a ro'sae).

— Often in the summer our rose-gardens look as if fire had
swept over them, so scorched and brown are the leaves.
The cause of this apparent conflagration is a transparent
jelly-like slug, greenish above and yellowish below, which
eats the upper surface of the leaves, leaving patches of the
lower surface and the veins. These slugs usually feed by
night and remain hidden on the lower surface of the leaves
by day. When ready to pupate they crawl down or drop to
the ground and burrow beneath the surface ; here each
makes a little cell and then transforms. The adult fly is
shining black with smoky wings, and with the fore and mid¬
dle legs grayish or dirty-white. The female is about one
fifth inch in length. There are two broods a year, one in
June and one in August. The last brood passes the winter
in the ground. This pest can be destroyed with a solution
of whale-oil soap, or with kerosene emulsion.

The Pear-tree Slug, Eriocampa cerasi (Er-i-o-cam'pa cer'-
a-si). — The eggs of this species are laid on the leaves of pear
and cherry trees, at the beginning of the summer. In about
ten days the slugs hatch ; they are at first whitish, but soon
cover themselves with a dirty green, gummy excretion.
When full-grown these larvae attain the length of half an
inch. The fore part of the body is enlarged ; and they rest
with their tails in the air, and appear, as Mr. Harris aptly
observes, like minute tadpoles. These, like the rose-slugs,
eat only the upper surface of the leaves. The species is two-
brooded ; the second brood passes the winter in the ground.
The larvae can be destroyed in the same way as the preced¬
ing species.

The Currant-worm, Nematus ribesii (Nem'a-tus ri-be'si-i).

— This well-known enemy of currant and gooseberry bushes
belongs to the class of criminal emigrants, and has gained a
foothold and flourishes in our midst in spite of us. The fe-

614 THE study of insects.

male deposits her eggs on the under side of the first leaves
that appear on the currant ; the eggs are glossy and white,
and are placed in rows along the ribs of the leaf. In ten
days the larva hatches; it is at first whitish, with a big head ;
it grows fast, and soon becomes green, and then has black
dots and a black head, and looks like a caterpillar. A
brood will strip a bush of all its leaves. The larva spins
a brownish paper-like cocoon, sometimes fastening it to the
stripped bush, and sometimes making it just below the sur¬
face of the ground. There are two broods, and as the flies
of one brood do not issue all at the' same time, the fight
against them must be pretty constant. Hellibore or Paris-
green are the substances commonly used to destroy this in¬
sect. There is a native saw-fly on currents that has much
the same habits.

Family SIRICID.E (Si-ric'i-dae).

The Horn-tails.

These are so named because in this family the end of
the body usually bears a spine or horn. This is short and
triangular in the males, and long and often spear-shaped in
the females. The horn-tails are closely related to the saw-
flies, but differ from them in the shape of the ovipositor,
which is made for boring instead of sawing, and in the
habits of the larvae, which are borers in solid wood.

The ovipositor consists of five long slender pieces ; the
two outside pieces are grooved on the inner surface, and
when joined make a sheath containing the other three
pieces ; one of these is nearly cylindrical, and is channelled
beneath for the reception of the other two, which are very
slender and stiff, and furnished at the tip with transverse
ridges, like the teeth of a file. With this complex instru¬
ment the female can bore a deep hole into a tree and place
an egg at the bottom of it.

There are several species of horn-tails in America. A

HYMENOPTERA .

6iS

typical species is The Pigeon Horn-tail, Tremex columba
(Tre'mex co-lum'ba). The body of this insect is cylindri¬
cal, as large around as a me¬
dium-sized lead-pencil, and
at least an inch and a half
long (Fig. 744). The thorax
and head are rust-red and
black. The abdomen is black,
with ochre-yellow bands and
spots along the sides; the
horn at the hind end of the
body is yellow ; the antennas
are rust-red, with broad black FlG- 744-— Tremex columba.
rings at the middle. The wings are smoky color and trans¬
parent ; the legs are dull yellow. The female pierces the
wood of a tree to the depth of half an inch, where she de¬
posits her eggs ; sometimes her ovipositor gets wedged in
the wood and holds her there a prisoner until she dies.
The grub is cylindrical and whitish, and attains the length
of an inch and a half ; it does great injury by perforating
trees, especially elms. It transforms within a cocoon made of
silk and fine chips. When the fly emerges it breaks through
the cocoon, creeps to the mouth of the burrow, gnaws
through the bark, and flies off.

The preceding is the only species of Tremex that occurs
in our fauna. In this genus there is a single closed marginal
and two closed submarginal cells. The Horn-tails of the
genus Sirex (Si'rex), of which we have many species, closely
resemble Tremex in form, but differ in having two marginal
and three submarginal cells.

Family Cynipid^e (Cy-nip'i-dae).

The Gall-flies.

These insects are termed gall-flies because the majority of
the species live within galls ; but it should be remembered

6i6

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

that not all of the members of this family are developed
in galls, and that galls are produced by many insects
that do not belong to this family. Galls made by mites,
plant-lice, flies, and moths have been described in the pre^
ceding pages, and galls are also produced by beetles and cer¬
tain other insects; but the great majority of these strange
growths are made either by mites, plant-lice, or true gall¬
flies (Cynipidae).

The galls made by mites and plant-lice have open mouths,
from which the young of the original dweller escape. But
in the case of the gall-flies the gall is closed, and a hole must
be made by the insect in order to emerge. Moreover, there
is no reproduction of insects within the galls of gall-flies, as
there is within the galls of mites and plant-lice. Many
species of gall-flies undergo their transformations within
their galls; while in other species the full-grown larva leaves
the gall and enters the earth to transform. But in each case
the adult female provides for the production of new galls,
in which their young are to develop.

In the adult gall-fly the abdomen is usually much com,
pressed. It is joined to the thorax by a short peduncle, the

first abdominal segment (Fig.
745). The second and third
abdominal segments are large,
and the remaining segments,
usually five in number, are
short, and eacli is more or less
covered by the preceding seg¬
ment. Concealed within these
segments is the long, partially
coiled, very slender ovipositor,

Fig. 745* Amphiboiips spo7tgi/ua. which arises near the base of
the abdomen. The wings of gall-flies have compara¬
tively few veins, and the fore wings lack the stigma ; some
forms are wingless. The antennae are not elbowed, and
consist of from thirteen to sixteen segments. The larvae

HYMENOPTERA. 617

are maggot-like, and without a caudal opening to the ali¬
mentary canal.

It is a remarkable fact that each species of gall-insect
infests a special part of one or more particular species of
plants, and the gall produced by each species of insect is of
a definite form. Hence when an entomologist who has
studied these insects sees a familiar gall, he knows at once
what species of insect produced it.

Naturalists have speculated much as to the way galls are
made to grow. It has been supposed that at the time the egg
is laid there is deposited in the tissue of the plant with it a
drop of poison, which causes the abnormal growth. By this
theory the differences between the galls of different insects
was explained by supposing that the fluid produced by each
species of insect had peculiar properties. There are certain
kinds of galls which may be produced in this way. Thus it
is said that the wound made by a certain saw-fly in the leaves
of willow causes an abundant formation of plant-cells, and
the gall thus formed attains its full growth at the end of a
few days, and before the larva has escaped from the egg.
But with the gall-flies the gall does not begin to grow until
the larva is hatched ; but as soon as the larva begins to feed,
the abnormal growth of the plant commences. In this case,
therefore, if the gall is produced by a poison, this poison
must be excreted by the larva.

There exists in many species of gall-flies an alternation of
generations ; that is, the individuals of one generation do not
resemble their parents, but are like their grandparents. In
many cases the two succeeding generations of a species
differ so greatly that they have been considered not merely
as distinct species, but have been placed in different genera.
Thus it has been found by Mr. Adler, of Schleswig, that
that while a certain species of Neuroterus (Neu-rot'e-rus) is
developed in one kind of gall on the leaves of oak, the
larvae that hatch from eggs laid by it produce a different
kind of gall, and develop into gall-flies which do not present

6i8

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

the characteristics of Neuroterus , but have been classed in
another genus under the name Spathegaster (Spath-e-gas'ter).
These in turn lay eggs which develop into gall-flies like their
grandparents, i.e., a species of Neuroterus . Not only, says
Mr. Adler, do the two generations live in galls differing in
form, color, and situation, and the insects exhibit among
themselves differences of size, proportions, and structure, but
what renders the contrast more striking is that the Neu¬
roterus generation is only represented by females, whilst the
Spathegaster generation presents individuals of both sexes.

Although alternation of generations occurs in many
species of the Cynipidse, it is believed that there are other
species in which the parthenogenetic form exists alone ; that
is, the species reproduce continuously without any males ap¬
pearing. There can be no doubt that these parthenogenetic
species have descended from species consisting of both sexes.
Still, it is said that no case is now known of a bisexual form
existing alone ; each bisexual species is merely a link in a
cycle containing a parthenogenetic generation.

The members of this family infest many kinds of plants,
but their galls occur most abundantly on oaks. Among the
more conspicuous species are the following: s

The Fibrous Oak-apple, Amphibolips coccinece (Am-phib'-
o-l ips coc-cin'e-ae).— There are several large, spherical galls,
common on oaks, which have received the name of oak-apples.
These galls resemble each other quite closely in their ex¬
ternal appearance, but differ much in their internal struc¬
ture. The one which we name the Fibrous Oak-apple is
represented by Figure 746. In the centre of the gall there is
a small, hollow kernel, in the cavity of which the gall-fly is
developed. The space between this kernel and the dense
outer layer of the gall is filled with many fibres, which radi¬
ate from the kernel. This gall is found on the scarlet oak,
and varies in size from three fourths inch to two inches in
diameter.

The Spongy Oak-apple, Amphibolips spongifica (A. spon-

H YMENOP TER A.

619

gif'i-ca), is most common on the red oak, but it occurs also
on the black oak. In this gall the space between the kernel
and the outer layer is quite densely filled with a porous
mass, which suggests the name spongy.

The Larger Empty Oak-apple, Holcaspis inanis (Hol-
cas'pis i-na'nis). — There are two oak-apples which are very
similar in structure, and which may be termed the empty
oak-apples. In these the space between the central kernel

Fig. 746. — Gall of Amphibolies coccineee.

and the outer shell contains only a few, very slender, silky
filaments, which hold the kernel in place. The larger of
these two galls measures an inch or more in diameter, and
is found on the scarlet oak and the red oak.

The Smaller Empty Oak-apple, Holcaspis centricola (H.
cen-tric'o-la), is found on the post-oak, and measures three
fourths of an inch or less in diameter. It also differs from
the preceding in that the outer shell is mottled.

The Bullet-gall, Holcaspis globulus (H. glob'u-lus). — One
of the most common galls on our oaks in the Northeastern

620

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

States is a bullet-like gall, which is attached to the small
twigs, and which measures from one half to two thirds inch
in diameter. In this gall the central kernel is surrounded
by a hard, woody substance.

The Giant Oak-gall, Andricus calif ornicus (An'dri-cus
cal-i-for'ni-cus. — This is the most common oak-gall of the
Pacific coast. It is very abundant on the twigs and branches
of the California white oak, and during the winter, when the
trees are bare, it is a very conspicuous object. It differs
from the preceding galls in being of the type termed poly-
thalamous; that is, instead of containing a single cell, there
are several cells within it, in each of which a gall-fly is devel¬
oped. This gall varies greatly in form and size ; some of the
larger ones measure ten or twelve inches in their greatest
circumference. The outer surface of the gall is white, and
usually smooth.

The Pithy Blackberry-gall, Diastrophus nebulosus (Di-as'-

tro-phus neb-
u-lo'sus), is
another exam¬
ple of a poly-
thalamous gall.
It is a large
woody growth,
which occurs
on the stems
of blackberry.
It is sometimes
three inches in
length and one
and one -half
inches in diam¬
eter. It varies
in shape, but

Fig, 747. — The Mossy Rose-gall, Rhodites rosee . there are al¬

ways several wrinkled ridges along the stem.

H Y MEN OP TER A.

021

The Mossy Rose-gall, Rhodites rosce (Rho-di'tes ro'sEe),
is a very common polythalamous gall, which is formed on
the stem of the sweetbrier (Fig. 747). The gall consists of
a large number of hard kernels surrounding the branch and
covered with reddish or green, moss-like filaments. In each
of these kernels a gall fly is developed.

The Guest Gall-flies or Inquilines (In'qui-lins). — There are
many gall-flies that do not form galls, but lay their eggs in
the galls made by some other species. The larvae of these
guest gall-flies feed upon these galls, and in many instances
do not discommode the owners in the least.

Family TrigonalidAl (Trig-o-nal'i-dae).

The Trigonalids ( Tri-gon’ adids).

This family includes only one genus, Trigonalys (Tri-
gon'a-lys), of which there are only four North American
species. All of these are rare.

In this genus there is a distinct cell between veins I and
III of the fore wing ; the stigma is well developed ; there is
only one marginal cell, but this reaches nearly to the apex
of the wing ; and there are four submarginal cells.

Family ICHNEUMONIDA2 (Ich-neu-mon'i-dae).

The Ichneumon- flies.

When the discouraged farmer sees his crops harvested
before due time by hordes of hungry insects, he is apt to
long for a miracle to remove the plague from his fields.
Oftener than he dreams the miracle takes place, and millions
of insect pests never live to lay their eggs for another brood.
Such miracles arc most frequently wrought by members of
this and the allied families. These constitute a group com¬
monly spoken of as the Parasitic Hymenoptera (see Synop¬
sis, p. 601), a group containing the great majority of all
parasitic insects.

Very many other insects play an important part in the

622

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

destruction of insect pests ; but in most cases these other
insects are simply predaceous, pouncing upon and destroy¬
ing such insects as they can overcome. But the true para¬
sites act in a very different way. Although some species
are external parasites, most of them live within the bodies
of their victims, within which they pass their entire larval
existence. Their presence in this strange situation is due
to the fact that the parent lays her eggs within or upon the
body of the insect to be destroyed. When the egg is laid
upon the body of the victim, the larva as soon as it hatches
bores its way into the body. So in either case the young
parasite is in the midst of suitable food. It is probable that

Fig. 748. — Wing's of Exetastes fascrpennis.

the parasite feeds only on the blood of its host ; hence the
parasitized insect is not destroyed at once, but lives on with
the parasite within it, which gradually attains its growth.
Finally, the parasitized insect perishes ; and from the larva
that has been nourished in its body there is developed a
winged creature, which in turn lays its eggs in other victims.
Frequently a parasitic insect lays several eggs within a single
victim, so that a number of parasites may be developed
within the body of a single insect. Each species of these
parasites infests only certain insects, each insect having, to
a great extent, its peculiar parasites.

Although the Ichneumonidae include some minute forms,

H Y MEN OP TER A.

623

the species are mostly of considerable size, and here belong the
larger of the parasitic Hy menoptera. I n this fain ily the wings
are furnished with several closed cells ; the fore wings have
a stigma; and cells V, and 1st V2 are separate (Fig. 748).

The largest members of the family belong to the genus
Thalessa . These are remarkable-looking insects, with long,
slender bodies and three long hairs at the end of the body.
Two of these hairs form a sheath for the third, which is the
ovipositor. This ovipositor, although apparently merely a
thread, is really composed of three pieces placed parallel,
one above and two below, and securely locked together.
Near the end of them are ridges like those on a file, and
between them is a passage through which the egg is forced
when it is laid.

TJialessa lunator (Tha-les'sa lu-na'tor) is one of the
larger of our Ichneumon-flies. Its body is two and one
half inches long, and it measures nearly ten inches from
the tip of the antennas to the tip of the ovipositor. It
is a parasite of the wood-boring larva of the Pigeon Horn-
tail. When a female
finds a tree infested by
this insect she selects a
place which she judges is
opposite a Tremex-bur-
row, and, elevating her
long ovipositor in a loop
over her back, with its
tip on the bark of the
tree (Fig. 749), she
makes a derrick out of
her body, and proceeds
with great skill and pre¬
cision to drill a hole into
the tree. When the
Tremex-burrow is
reached she deposits an

Fig, 749. — Thalessa lunator.

egg in it. The larva that hatches

624

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

from this egg creeps along this burrow until it reaches
its victim, and then fastens itself to the horn-tail larva,
which it destroys by sucking its blood. The larva of
Thalessa when full grown changes to a pupa within the bur¬
row of its host, and the adult gnaws a hole out through the
bark if it does not find a hole already made by the Tremex.
Sometimes the adult Thalessa , like the adult Tremex , gets
her ovipositor wedged in the wood so tightly that it holds
her a prisoner until she dies.

The most common of our larger Ichneumon-flies belongs
to the genus Ophion (O'phi-on) (Fig.
AvKj 750) ; these have yellow bodies. They

KfcKj infest the caterpillars of the Polyphe-

mus-moth, and only a single egg is
laid within each victim. The cater-
* l * l J pillar lives until it spins its cocoon,

Fig. 750 .-ophion. but <joes not change to a pupa. The

Ichneumon larva when full grown spins a dense brownish
cocoon within the cocoon of the caterpillar. Another smaller
Ichneumon-fly, Cryptus extrcmatis (Cryp'tus ex-tre-ma'tis),
infests the same caterpillar, but more than one egg is laid in
a caterpillar by the female. We have bred thirty-five of
these Ichneumon-flics from one caterpillar. The larvae of
this species also spin their cocoons within the cocoon of their
host.

Family Stephanid^e (Ste-phan'i-dae).

The Stephanids {Stcphf a-nids).

This family includes only four North American species,
and all of these are rare. They resemble the Braconids in
lacking the vein between cells V, and 1st Va of the fore wing,
but differ in having a cell between veins I and III.

HYMENOP TER A.

025

Family BraconiDjB (Bra-con'i-dae).

The Braconids {Brac'o-nids).

The Braconidae include a large number of parasites,
which are small or of moderate size. They are often called
Ichneumon-flies; but it seems best to restrict that name to
members of the Ichneumonidae. In the Braconids the

Fig. 751. — Wings of Rhog-as parasiticus .

wings have several closed cells, the fore wings are furnished
with a stigma, and the vein between cells V, and 1st V, is
wanting (Fig. 751). This last character is important, as dis¬
tinguishing the members of this family from the true Ichneu¬
mon-flies, which they resemble both in appearance and habits.

It is not an uncommon thing, especially in vineyards, to
find a feeble caterpillar with its back covered with little, white,
oblong bodies, which the ignorant usually think are its own
eggs (Fig. 752). These are
the cocoons of braconid par¬
asites. The larvae obtain
their growth within the bod)'

of the Caterpillar, and just Fig. 752. — Caterpillar with cocoons of a

before it perishes they leave Braconid.

it, and spin their silken cocoons upon its back. When these
cocoons are examined with a lens they are found to be beau-
41

626

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

tiful objects, resembling in miniature those of the silkworm.
The adult parasite in emerging from its cocoon cuts a neat
little lid at its upper end. These parasites belong to the
genus Microgaster (Mic-ro-gas'ter). Bunches of white or
yellow cocoons of Microgaster are often found attached to
grass or other plants instead of to the back of the caterpillar
which the larvae have destroyed (Fig. 753).

Perhaps the most interesting of the com¬
mon forms belonging to this family are those
belonging to the genus Aphidius (A-phid'i-us).
The members of this genus are minute creat-
ures which infest plant-lice. If colonies of
Aphides be examined, the dried bodies of
dead ones may be found in which the abdo¬
men is more or less spherical, being greatly
distended. These bodies remain clinging to
the leaves in the position in which the insects
were when they died. From each one there
emerges in due time an Aphidius. The para¬
site in emerging cuts a very
regular circular lid in the dor¬
sal wall of the abdomen of its host (Fig. 754).

We have watched with much interest these
little Braconids ovipositing in the bodies of
plant-lice. When one has selected a plant- Fig. 754.
louse in which to oviposit she stands with her head towards
it, and bending her abdomen under her thorax between he*
legs she darts her ovipositor forward into the body of the
Aphis. The species of this genus do not construct co¬
coons, but undergo their metamorphoses within the dried
skins of the plant-lice.

Family Evaniid^ (Ev-a-ni'i-dae).

The Ensign-flies .

This is a small family, comprising insects of very peculiar
structure. They can be easily distinguished by the fact

HYMEN OP TER A.

627

that the abdomen is attached to the top of the metathorax,
and not at the hind end of it, as with other insects. The
abdomen is compressed, and has a very slender base.

The venation of the wings also presents a striking pe¬
culiarity. In other Hymenoptera vein V of the fore wings

/irises from some point on the cross-vein III VII that is
nearer to vein III than to vein VII, while in the Evaniidae
the origin of vein V is nearer to vein VII than to vein III.

Tn the more generalized members of the family, as Aulacus
(Au'la-cus), the origin of vein V is but a little way from the

628

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

middle of cross-vein III-VII (Fig. 755); but in Fcenus
(Fce'nus) (Fig. 756) vein V has migrated so far toward the
anal furrow that it no longer arises from the cross-vein, and
cell V is reduced to a mere areolet.

These insects are parasitic ; we have bred one species,

-rK

Fig. 757. — Evania cippendigaster. Fig. 758. — Fcenus.

Evanta appendigaster (E-van'i-a ap-pen-di-gas'ter) (Fig. 75 7),
from the ootheca of a cockroach, and have found another,
a species of Fcenus (Fce'nus) (Fig. 758), common on flowers.

We have named these insects Ensign-flies, because they
carry the abdomen aloft like a flag.

Family CHALCIDIDiB (Chal-cid'i-dae).

The Chalcis- flies.

The Chalcis-flies are among the smaller of the parasitic
Hymenoptera. In fact they are usually minute insects,
often not more than one one-hundredth of an inch in length ;
on the other hand, a few of our species are much larger, a
common one measuring three eighths of an inch in length.
They are nearly always black, with strong metallic reflec-

Fig. 759 .—Dilophogaster calif ornica. Fig. 760 .—Aphycus eruptor.

tions, although some species are yellow. The head is
usually large ; the prothorax does not extend back on each

H Y MEN OP TER A. 629

side to the cup-like scale covering the base of the fore
wing ; the wings have no closed cells ; and the ovipositor is
usually hidden, issuing before the apex of the abdomen.
Figures 759 and 760 represent Chalcis-fiies greatly enlarged.

It is to this family that the great majority of the para¬
sites of the smaller insects belong. Thus scale-bugs are
preyed upon by many species of Chalcis-flies. But Chalcis-
flies also attack large insects, for many caterpillars are de¬
stroyed by them. The most efficient parasite of the cab¬
bage-butterfly is a Chalcis-fly, Pteromalus puparum (Pte-
rom'a-lus pu-pa'rum). In the case of these larger insects
hundreds of Chalcis-flies may reach maturity within a single
individual.

The larvae of Chalcis-flies usually feed within their vic¬
tims, but a few live attached externally. Some Chalcis-
flies, like the members of the next family, are egg-parasites,
and certain others are developed within the galls produced
by members of other families (Cynipidae and Cecidomyidas),
and are doubtless merely inquilines, instead of parasites.

The members of one subfamily closely approach the
gall-flies (Cynipidae) in structure and in habits. One of
these, the Joint-worm, Isosoma hordei (Is-o-so'ma hor'de-i),
is a well-known pest, which infests the stalks of growing
grain. It causes a woody growth, which fills up the cavity
of the stalk, and sometimes also causes a joint to swell and
the stalk to bend and lop down. The presence of this insect
is often indicated by pieces of hardened straw coming from
the threshing-machine with the grain. There is but a single
generation of the joint-worm in a year. The insects remain
in the straw during the winter, the adults emerging in the
spring. Obviously the best way to destroy this pest is to
burn the infested straw before the insects emerge.

The Chalcis-flies of the genus Leucospis (Leu-cos'pis) are
very remarkable in form. They agree with the true wasps, and
differ from all other Hymenoptera in having the fore wings
folded like a fan when at rest. They are also peculiar in

030

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

having the ovipositor of the female curved up over the dor.
sum of the abdomen to the thorax. Our most common
species is Leucospis affinis (L. af-fi'nis) ; this measures about
three eighths inch in length.

Family PROCTOTRUPiDiE (Proc-to-tru'pi-dae).

The Proctolrupids {Proc-to-lru fpids).

These insects, in spite of their long family name, are the
smallest of the parasitic Hymenoptera ; and in fact the
smallest of all known insects belongs to this family. The
larger species rarely exceed one twenty-fifth of an inch in
length ; the smallest, Alaptus excisns (A-lap'tus ex-ci'sus),
measures between six and seven one-thousandths of an inch.

In shape, the body is slender, and the
color is almost invariably black or
brown without metallic lustre ; the
prothorax extends back on each side
to the cup-like scale covering the base
of the fore wing; the wings are often
wanting, and when present are en¬
tirely veinless, or they may approach
the venation of some of the Chalcis-flies, or in other cases
that of some of the Braconidae ; the ovipositor issues from
the apex of the abdomen. Figure 761 represents a Procto-
trupid greatly enlarged.

The Proctotrupids are nearly all parasitic ; and very
many of them infest the eggs of other insects. The female
Proctotrupid bores a hole with her ovipositor through the
shell of an egg of one of the larger insects, and deposits one
of her eggs inside of it. Here the young parasite when it
hatches finds itself in the midst of food which is sufficient
for it till it is fully grown. The transformations are passed
within the infested egg, from which the parasite comes forth
an adult. Other species are internal parasites of larvae,
and some are secondary parasites, that is, parasites upon

Fig. 761.

H YMENOP TER A. 63 1

other parasites. A few species are inquilines, but none
have been found to be injurious to vegetation.

Suborder Aculeata (A-cu-le-a'ta).

The Stinging- Hymenoptera .

In the second of the two suborders into which the Hy¬
menoptera are divided we find at the caudal end of the
body of the female a sting connected with a poison gland,
the well-known organ of offence of these insects. This is
really the same organ as that which we have termed the
borer in the first suborder, but its form and use are differ-
ent. It should be said, however, that the sting of insects of
this suborder is not a simple spear, as often supposed, but
is really a compound organ composed of essentially the
same parts as the borer described in preceding pages. In
some cases the sting is imperfectly developed : thus we find
that while certain ants have well-developed stings, others are
not able to sting at all.

In the Aculeata, as already indicated on page 610, the
trochanter of the posterior legs consists of a single segment
(Fig* 737, c).

In the adult insects of this suborder the abdomen con¬
sists of six complete segments in the female, and seven in the
male. This character is very useful in separating the sexes
of these insects.*

Family PELECINIM: (Pel-e-cin'i-dae).

The Pelecinus ( Pel-e-ci'nus ).

This family is represented by a single species, Pelecinus
polyturator (P. pol-y-tu-ra'tor), which is a very remarkable
insect. The females are common where they occur, and
are easily recognized by the slender and very long abdomen
(Fig. 762). The abdomen of the male is club-shaped, and

* No account is taken here of the propodeum (see page 602).

632

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

only about twice the length of the head and thorax. This
sex is very rare ; it can be recognized by the venation of
the wings, which is similar to that of the female. Nothing

Fig. 762. — Pelecinus polyturator^ female.

is known regarding the habits of this species, but it is sup¬
posed to be parasitic, like the Ichneumon-flies.

Family CHRYSIDID./E (Chry-sid'i-dae).

The Cuckoo-flies .

The cuckoo-flies are wonderfully beautiful creatures, be¬
ing usually a brilliant metallic green in color. The species
are of moderate size, the largest being only about a half
inch in length. They can be distinguished from other

Hymenoptera by the form of the ab¬
domen, in which there are only three
or four visible segments (Fig. 763),
except in the male of a single genus
( Cleptes ), where there are five. The
abdomen is convex above and flat or

Fig. 763 .—chrysis nitiduia. concave below, so that it can be read¬
ily turned under the thorax and closely applied to it. In
this way a cuckoo-fly rolls itself into a ball when attacked,
leaving only its wings exposed.

Although these insects are handsome, they have very
ugly morals, resembling those of the bird whose name has
been applied to them. A cuckoo-fly seeks until it finds one
of the digger-wasps, or a solitary true wasp, or a solitary

H Y MEN OP TER A.

633

bee, building a nest, and when the owner of the nest is off
collecting provisions steals in and lays its egg, which the
unconscious owner walls in with her own egg. Sometimes
the cuckoo-fly larva eats the rightful occupant of the nest,
and sometimes starves it by eating up the food provided for
it. The bees and wasps know this foe very well, and tender
it so warm a reception that the brilliant-coated little rascal
has reason enough to double itself up so that the righteous
sting of its assailant can find no hole in its armor. There
is one instance on record where an outraged wasp, unable
to sting one of the cuckoo-flies to death, gnawed off her
wings and pitched her out on the ground. But the un¬
daunted invader waited until the wasp departed for provi¬
sions, and then crawled up the post and laid her egg in the
nest before she died.

Some of the cuckoo-flies are true parasites ; one of them
infests the currant-worm in Europe. It is to be hoped that
this species will find its way to this country.

Superfamily FORMICINA (For-mi-ci'na).

The Ants.

The ants are easily recognized by the well-known form
of the body. The only insects that are liable to be mis¬
taken for ants are the white-ants or Termites ( Termitida)
and the velvet-ants {Mutillidce). But the true ants are
readily distinguished from these and other insects by the
form of the abdomen. With the ants the first segment of
the abdomen, and in one family the second also, forms a
lens-shaped scale or knot, varying in form and
serving as a peduncle to the remaining por¬
tion of this region of the body (Fig. 764). F,c-
The winged ants are also peculiar in lacking the cup-like
scale or tegula at the base of each fore wing.

If the statesman or the philosopher would study a per¬
fect communistic society, let him throw away his histories

634

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

of poor human attempts, and go and study thoroughly the
nearest ant-hill. There he will find no love for friend or
wife or child, but a love for everyone. There everything is
done for the good of the whole, and nothing for the indi¬
vidual. The state makes wars, provides food for all, cares
for the children, owns all the property. He will find no
complaint against the existing condition of society, no
rebels ; but the fate of each one is determined by the acci¬
dent of birth, and each takes up its work without a murmur.
He will find that this perfect commune has developed
courage, patriotism, loyalty, and never-failing industry; but
he will find also that war, pillage, slavery, and an utter dis¬
regard of the rights of other communities and individuals
are as prevalent as they are among our own nations, where
selfish private ambition has held sway so long.

There are always three classes of ants in a colony : males,
females, and workers. The males and the females are winged,
the workers wingless. Often in warm summer afternoons
the air will seem to be filled with countless thousands of
flying ants. Their moving wings divide the sun's rays into
rainbow flashes as they rise or fall, a silent, onward-moving
host. This is the wedding-journey of the male and female
ants, which have come from many communities and have
taken flight together. But soon the journey is over and
they drop to earth, where the males soon die ; but the
females tear off their own wings, having no further use for
them, and set about to find places to lay their eggs. Some¬
times a female starts a new colony; in other cases she is
fe nd by some workers of her own species and adopted as
their queen.

Comparatively little is known regarding the formation of
new colonies of ants. It has been a question whether a
colony is founded by a single queen working alone, as with
the bumblebees and social wasps; or whether a queen asso¬
ciates a number of workers with herself and they together
found the colony, as with the Honey-bee. The writer has

I

H V MEN OP TER A. 635

demonstrated by repeated experiments that in the case of
our common carpenter-ant ( Carnponotus pennsylvanicus) the
former method is practised. But it is not improbable that
with certain other species the latter method occurs.

On many occasions we have found a queen of the car¬
penter-ant in a small cleared space beneath the bark of a
dead tree or log. Some of these queens were alone ; others
were accompanied either by eggs, larvae, or by small workers,
On one occasion we collected several such queens and placed
each with her eggs in a cell between plates of glass in an
artificial ant’s rfest, and have thus watched the beginnings
of colonies. A few eggs, from ten to fifteen, are laid at
first ; these soon hatch, and the larvae develop quite rapidly.
A nest which on July 15th contained, besides the queen,
only seven eggs, contained July 27th thirteen eggs, three
larvae, and one cocoon ; and on Aug. 14th there were six
cocoons. In another nest, which on July 15th contained,
besides the queen, only young larvae, the larvae began to
spin cocoons on July 19th, and on Aug. 8th the workers
began to emerge. On Aug. 16th the workers had begun to
work, carrying the empty cocoons out of the nest, and on
Aug. 20th the workers began to take into the nest dead flies
that had been placed at the entrance.

The most remarkable result of this experiment was the
demonstration of the fact that from the time the queen forms
her cell and begins to lay eggs to the time when a brood of
workers is matured no food is taken into the nest. The cell
is a closed one, and contains no store of food except what
may be within the body of the queen. The queen does not
leave the nest ; and when we placed food within a nest the
queen built a wall of earth about it, thus walling it out.

To test this matter a queen was placed with some of her
eggs in an empty vial, and Swiss muslin was tied over the
mouth of it. Here, where the queen could not possibly
obtain food, the larvae matured, spun cocoons, and adult
workers emerged. The queen was often seen to apparently

636

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

I

lick the workers, and the conclusion was forced upon us
that there was stored up within the stomach of the queen a
supply of food, which was regurgitated and fed to the larvae.
It should be noted that this first brood of workers consists
of very small individuals, of the type known as worker-
minor.

The term queen, as applied to the individual at the head
of a colony of ants, is a misnomer, for among social insects
the queens do not rule ; they are merely the mothers of
their colonies. The queen ant is not jealous, like the queen
bee, but may live in peace in the same dwelling with several
other queens. She is always an object of extreme devotion
to her attendants, who feed her and care for her eggs as soon
as she lays them.

The larvae of ants are white and legless; most species
spin cocoons when ready to pupate, but some do not. The
oblong, egg-shaped bodies, which may be seen in any ant’s
nest, and which are often mistaken by the careless observer
for eggs, are these cocoons. The eggs are so small that
they escape observation unless careful search is made for
them. The larvae are efficiently cared for by the workers,
who carry them about and put them in the warmer parts of
the nest and feed them. When the adults issue from the
cocoons their nurses help them out carefully ; and they un¬
fold the legs and smooth out the wings of new-fledged roy¬
alty with tenderest solicitude. The workers are by far the
most interesting portion of the ant colony, as they do all
the work, feed the colony, build and defend the nests, care
for the young and for the stock, and carry on the wars.
The workers are undeveloped females, which very rarely lay
eggs, and as the eggs of workers always develop into males,
the presence of a queen is necessary for the perpetuation of
the life of a colony. For this reason, as the queens grow old
the workers find young queens at the swarming season,
bring them into their nests, and adopt them as successors to
the old queens.

H Y MEN OP TER A.

637

There are many forms of ants’ nests, but each species
builds the same sort. Sometimes the nest is a simple tun¬
nel in the earth, sometimes a large mound with tunnels and
galleries extending many feet under ground; and some
species live in decayed trees. In the tropics a greater variety
of these structures occur than in our country. Some
colonies own several mounds. One colony of one species
has been known to have two hundred mounds, covering
several hundred square yards. Ants are also very good
road-makers, sometimes making clean, beaten paths, and
sometimes working out covered ways under rubbish.

As to their food, ants are general feeders, eating animal
food and also sweet substances, like the juice of fruit and
sugar ; and they are also very fond of the honey-dew given
off by Aphids; and the ants regard these Aphids as their
milch-cows. An ant will walk up to an Aphid and stroke its
back with its antennae, and immediately the pleased Aphid
gives forth a drop of sweet fluid, which the ant at once
drinks up. The ants take very good care of their cattle,
and will carry them to new pastures if the old ones dry up.
They also carry the Aphid-eggs into their nests, and keep
them sheltered during the winter, and then carry the young
plant-lice out and put them on plants in the spring. When
ants are seen going up and down the trunks of trees it
is safe to suppose they are attending Aphids. They also
care similarly for some of the Coccids (especially some
Lecaniums) and a few other honey-giving insects (Tree-
hoppers and others).

Many species of beetles are also found in ants* nests, but
the ants have never revealed to us why these insects are
allowed to dwell in peace in their habitations.

We have many evidences that ants think, but what goes
on in their minds we can only guess. They have a language
that seems to exist through the sense of touch. The an¬
tennae are most sensitive organs, and when ants meet they
cross their antennae and pat each other. If one finds some

638

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS .

large article of food, too heavy for it to carry, it goes for
aid, and the first fellow it meets it pats with its antennae,
and the two start off together for the booty. If a nest is
attacked the workers orsoldiers rush around and stroke each
other with their antennae, and thus evidently give warning
and plan a battle for protection. In case an ant finds a
comrade in distress it shows great solicitude and activity in
giving relief. Yet there are some species that, like the
Spartans, kill off the feeble and old, as useless to the colony.
When a portion of a colony is removed and kept imprisoned
for a time, and then returned, there is great rejoicing on
both sides. Gould says they have a way of standing on
their hind legs and prancing around under such circum¬
stances, as well as when they enter the cell of their queen,
that indicates great joy. Sometimes they get to be very
hilarious and wrestle with each other, and carry each other
around as if it were a part of a game that they found amus¬
ing — a sort of formic football.

But it is in their wars that the ants show that they are
trained athletes. They do most of their fighting with their
jaws, but they also eject upon each other an acrid fluid called
formic acid. They are very courageous, and will attack a
man as readily as a grasshopper. They seem in a great rage
when they fight, and are fierce beyond belief. After a
battle the field is strewn with legs, heads, and bodies. They
usually wage war against other species, but sometimes two
colonies of the same species will go to war if their nests
happen to encroach upon each other. When an army is
ready to go forth for conquest, scouts are sent out and the
army waits till they return before it starts. Very often
these armies go forth to capture slaves, for there are several
species of ants that are slaveholders, and by strange coin¬
cidence the slaves are dark colored, while the masters are
light. When a depredating army sets forth it proceeds to
the black colony, which defends itself fiercely ; if the be¬
sieged blacks are overcome, the conquerors carry off all the

hymenoptera .

639

larvae and pupae to their own nests, and bring them up with
their own, and they in turn work hard for their captors, and
take great interest in their welfare and success. When a
party of marauders comes back without any booty their
slaves give them a cold reception ; but if they come back
laden with plenty of larvae and pupae, the slaves rush out
and meet them with apparent delight and exultation.

Some species of slaveholders (e.g., Formica difficilis)
work side by side with their slaves. However, in one species
( Polyergus rufescens of Europe) the masters have depended
upon their slaves so long that they cannot build their own
nests or feed themselves or care for their young, but have
only retained the power of fighting to get more slaves.
Huber tells of placing several of these slaveholders by
themselves, where nearly all helplessly starved, although
there was plenty of food all around them. Then a slave was
introduced, which at once set to work and made a nest and
fed those still alive, thus saving from death its stupid
masters.

The classification of the ants is still in a very imperfect
state. Many of our common species are still undescribed,
and the limits of the families have not yet been determined.
But, if we except a few species found in Texas and Utah,
our described species represent only three families. These
can be separated by the following table: —

TABLE OF FAMILIES OF THE FORMICINA,

A. Peduncle of the abdomen consisting of a single segment.

B. Abdomen not constricted between the second and third seg¬
ments (the first segment forms the peduncle), p. 64o..FormiciDjEp
BB. Abdomen constricted between the second and third segments,

p. 642 . . Poneridjs.

AA. Peduncle of the abdomen consisting of two segments. p. 642.

MYRMICIDiE.

640

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

Family FORMICID.fi (For-mic'i-dse).

The Typical Ants .

The ants of this family can be recognized by the follow.

ing characteristics : the pe¬
duncle of the abdomen con¬
sists of a single segment ;
there is no constriction be¬
tween the second and third
abdominal segments (Fig.
765) ; and the queens and
workers have no sting. The pupae are sometimes contained
in a cocoon and are sometimes naked. The following are
some of our more common species:

The Carpenter-ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus (Cam-pa-
no'tus penn-syl-va'ni-cus). — This is one of the largest of our
common ants. Its entire body is black. It builds its nests
in the timbers of buildings, in logs, and in the trunks of
trees. Frequently they build in the dead interior of a liv¬
ing tree, excavating a complicated series of chambers. The
way in which new colonies of this ant are founded is de¬
scribed on page 635.

The Mound-building Ant, Formica exsectoides (For'mi-ca
ex-sec-toi'des). — This species is the builder of our largest ant¬
hills; these are often five or six feet across, and sometimes
more than twice that in diameter. The head and thorax of
this ant are rust-red, while the legs and abdomen are black-*
ish brown. This species has been supposed to be the same
as the European Wood-ant, Formica rufa , and is referred to
in many books under that name.

The Slavemaker-ant, Formica difficilis (F. dif-fic'i-lis). —
One of our common slave-making ants is this species. It
very closely resembles the preceding in size and in color;
in fact it is difficult to distinguish the two apart without the
use of a microscope. The Slavemaker-ant usually makes
its nest almost entirely underground. We often find these

HYMENOPTERA.

64I

nests beneath large flat stones. It is a curious fact that in
a single nest some of the pupae will be enclosed in cocoons
while others are naked. This ant is not always accompanied
by slaves ; but it is a common occurrence to find its dark-
colored associate with it. The way in which this ant gets its
slaves has been described above (p. 638).

The Slave-ant, Formica subsericea (F. sub-se-ric'e-a). —
This is usually a dark-brown or ash-colored ant with reddish
legs, but it varies greatly in color. It generally makes its
nest in the ground, beneath a stone or other object, and
leads an independent life when allowed to do so. But it is
this species that Formica difficilis enslaves.

The Corn-louse Ant, Lasins brunneus (Las'i-us brun'ne-
us). — This is the common, brown, small ant, about one eighth
inch in length, whose nests abound along the borders of
roads, in pastures, and in meadows. It is an exceedingly
interesting species on account of the care it is known to
take of certain plant-lice that feed upon the roots of grass
and of grain. One of these plant-lice feeds on the roots of
corn, and is a very serious pest in the middle West. It has
been discovered that this ant cares for the eggs of this plant-
louse, keeping them in its nest during the winter, thus
making sure of having a herd of Aphids from which it can
get a supply of honey-dew the following summer.

The marriage flights of the ants of the genus Lasius are
remarkable. The nests of these ants are so inconspicuous
that they are rarely observed except when search is made
for them. But the males and young queens from all the
nests in one region will emerge at one time, usually some
warm afternoon, and, where a short time before no ants
could be seen, the air becomes filled with these flying crea¬
tures. We have ridden for several miles through such a
swarm, when the ants were so abundant that it was almost
impossible to breathe without inhaling them. The ants that
make up these swarms are very different from the workers
that we find in the nests. Both the young queens and the
42

642

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

males are winged, and the queens are much larger than
either the workers or males.

The Honey-ant, Myrmecocystus melliger (Myr-mec-o-cys'-
tus mel'li-ger). — This ant exhibits a striking peculiarity.

One form of the workers has its abdomen
enlarged to the size of a currant and filled
with honey (Fig. 766). This species lives in
high altitudes in the southwestern part of
Fig. 766. our country, and builds nests in the form
of little mounds. The honey-bearing individuals are found
clinging to the roofs of their chambers, and are merely storing
vats for a sort of honey which the other workers collect from
galls that grow on oak-trees and feed to them. When the
season for obtaining this food is past, these living cells
disgorge their supply through their mouths for the use of
their hungry fellows.

Family PONERID^E (Po-ner'i-dae).

The Ponerids ( Po-nefrids ).

The ants of this family resemble those of the preceding
family in that the peduncle of the abdomen consists of a
single segment, but differ in having the abdomen con¬
stricted between the second and third
abdominal segments (Fig. 767), and in
the possession of a sting by the queens fig. 767.-a Ponerid.
and workers. The pupa state is passed within the cocoon.
But few species belonging to this family have been described
in this country, and most of them are rare. Their favorite
nesting-place is beneath stones.

Family MYRMICID^: (Myr-mic'i-dae).

The Myrmicids (Myr-mi ' cids ).

The ants of this family are easily recognized by the fact
that with them the peduncle of the abdomen consists of two

H Y MEN OP TER A . 64 3

segments (Fig. 768). The queens and workers are armed
with a sting, and the pupae are
naked. The following will serve
to illustrate this family :

The Red-ant, Monomorium phar -
aonis (M o n-o-mo'ri-um phar-a-
o'nis). — The most troublesome of
all ants that live in this country
is a minute yellow species that Fdea^V_a^h/bTs«onhe S
frequently invades houses. Al- thc front leg’ enlar^ed*
though this species is light yellow in color, it is commonly
known as the Red-ant. When these ants build their nests
within the walls or beneath the foundations of a house it is
almost impossible to dislodge them. By trapping and de¬
stroying the workers their numbers can be lessened some¬
what. But so long as the queens are undisturbed in their
nests the supply of workers will continue.

The Shed-builder Ant, Cremastogaster lincolata (Cre-mas-
to-gas'ter lin-e-o-la'ta). — This is a small ant, the workers
measuring from one eighth to three sixteenths inch in length.
It is usually yellowish brown, with a black abdomen ; but it
varies greatly in color. Its favorite nesting-place is under
stones or underneath and within the decayed matter of old
logs and stumps. Out of this material the ants sometimes
make a paper-like pulp with which they build a nest attached
to the side of a log, or even to the branches of a shrub at some
distance from the ground. Professor Atkinson describes
such a nest,* which was built several feet from the ground,
on a bush, and was eighteen inches long and twelve inches
in circumference ; it contained about one fourth pint of
adults, pupae, and larvae, and was doubtless the home of
the colony. But these ants often build small sheds, at
some distance from the nest, over the herds of Aphids or
scale-insects from which they obtain honey-dew. In these

^American Naturalist, Aug. 1887.

644

THE STUD V Cf INSECTS.

cases the Aphids or scale-insects are huddled together on a
branch, from which they are deriving their nourishment, and
are completely covered by the “ cow-shed ” built by the ants.

Superfamily SPHECINA (Sphe-ci'na).

The Fossores (Fos-so'res) or Digger-wasps .

There are several closely allied families of the Hymenop-
tera that are usually classed together as the Fossores or
Digger-wasps. These names refer to the fact that most
of these insects make nests for their young by digging
burrows in the ground or in wood. Many true wasps and
bees have similar habits, but these insects differ in appear¬
ance from the Fossores in the following easily seen charac¬
teristics : The true wasps when at rest have their wings
folded like fans, while the digger-wasps have their wings
lying flat above the body. The bees have the basal segment
of the tarsi of the hind legs flattened for carrying pollen,
while the digger-wasps have legs fitted only for digging and
walking.

The Fossores are all solitary in their habits, that is, each
female makes provision for her young. The adults are very
fond of the warm sunshine, and may be seen flitting about
flowers in the tropical heat of the noontide. As in most
Hymenoptera, the male dies early, leaving the entire work
of the nest-building and family cares to the female; however,
she seems entirely equal to her responsibilities. She burrows
in the ground or in wood, or utilizes the forsaken burrows
of other species, or builds in the ready-made cavities of
reeds or straws, or constructs a tube out of mud. The nest
thus made is provisioned with spiders or with insects, which
are not killed, but stung until paralyzed. The prey thus
treated remains alive a long time, but is helpless. The egg
is laid with this provision, and then the opening of the tube
sealed up securely. When the larva hatches it finds nicely
preserved food right at hand sufficient to nourish it during
its growth.

I1YMEN0P TER A.

645

As a rule, each species provisions its nest with a particular
«rfnd of food. Some use only spiders for this purpose, some
plant-lice, some caterpillars ; and so on through the list.

Very interesting and useful work can be done by the
student in the study of the habits of the digger-wasps and
of the solitary true wasps and solitary bees. Comparatively
few nests of either of these groups of insects have been
carefully described in this country ; and as each species
presents peculiarities of habits, the study is a very fascinat¬
ing one.

The nests are most abundant in sandy banks and in the
pith of sumach, elder, brambles, and other plants. Some
nests are dug in the earth in level places, and many are built
of mud and attached to the lower surface of stones or be¬
neath the roofs of buildings.

The nests made of mud should be carefully removed so
as not to break them, the nature of the provisions noted,
and the nest placed in a cage to breed the adult. When
the adult has been obtained, both nest and insect should be
mounted and placed in a collection.

In many cases the cells of mining species can be re¬
moved from the earth and the insects bred in a similar way.
But the easiest nests to study are those made in the pith of
plants. If dead branches of sumach or elder be split open
many of these insects can be found. If the branch be split
carefully the peculiarities of the nest can be observed with¬
out injury to its occupants. Then if the pieces of the branch
be tied together the adult insects can be bred by placing the
nest in a glass jar or other cage, or in a bag of muslin, if the
branch is a long one.

If a nest is provisioned with a paste made of pollen and
nectar, it is a nest of a bee ; but if it is provisioned with
spiders or insects, it belongs either to a digger-wasp or to a
solitary true wasp. We know of no way of distinguishing
between the nests of the last two except by breeding the
adults.

646

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

In breeding these insects from their nests care should be
taken not to mistake cuckoo-flies or other guest-insects or
parasites for the rightful owners of the nests. The fact that
members of each of these classes of insects are common in
these nests adds both to the complexity and interest of the
study.

The digger-wasps found in America north of Mexico
represent fourteen families. These can be separated by
the following table :

TABLE FOR DETERMINING THE FAMILIES OF THE
SPHECINA.*

A. Pronotum considerably produced backward on the sides reaching
the tegulae in the winged forms ; in one family the females are
wingless.

B. Abdomen with the first ventral abdominal segment distinctly
separated from the second by a constriction (Figs. 769, 770).

C. Intermediate tibiae with two apical spurs; the intermediate
coxae contiguous, or but little separated ; females wingless.

p. 648 . Mutillidje.

CC. Intermediate tibiae usually with a single apical spur, very
rarely with two ; intermediate coxae, as a rule, widely sepa¬
rated ; both sexes winged, p. 649. . . . ScOLUDiE,

BB. First and second ventral abdominal segments not separated
by a constriction.

C. Hind legs short, the tibiae not reaching to the apex of the

abdomen, p. 649 . Sapygid>e.

CC. Hind legs long, the tibiae reaching beyond the apex of the
abdomen, p. 650 . Pompilidje.

AA. Prothorax usually consisting of little more than a narrow
collar, the posterior angles not reaching the tegulae ; both sexes
winged in all species.

B. Fore wings with three closed submarginal cells, (Fig. 773, 2d
III, Ills, Ilh).

C. Base of abdomen with a long slender portion (petiolate).

* This table is based on one given by Mr. Cresson in his Synopsis of the
Hymenoptera of America north of Mexico, Philadelphia, Am. Ent. Soc.,

1887.

HYMENOPTERA. 647

D. Vein V3 arising at or beyond the end of the 2d cell III (Fig.

7 73) *

E. Petiole of abdomen cylindrical, smooth ; antennae slender
at apex ; tibiae of middle legs with two apical spurs, p. 650.

SPHECIDiE.

£E. Petiole of abdomen depressed and generally furrowed
above ; antennae thickened at apex; middle tibiae with one

apical spur. p. 655 . Mimesid.e.

DD. Vein Vs arising before the end of the 2d cell III.

MELLINIDiE.f

CC. Base of abdomen without a long, slender portion (not
petiolate).

D. Veins V2 and V3 arising from the second submarginal cell
(Ills) (Fig. 775); sometimes vein Va arises from the end of
cell III,.

E. Fore wings with an appendiculate cell (Fig. 775, ap.)\
mandibles usually more or less deeply notched on the ex¬
terior margin, p. 652 . . . Larrid^e.

EE. Appendiculate cell wanting; mandibles with the ex¬
terior margin entire.

F. Labrum short, projecting but little, if at all. p. 654.

NyssonidjE.

FF. Labrum distinctly exserted, sometimes forming a long

triangular beak (Figs. 776, 777) 652 . Bembecid^e.

DD. Vein V2 arising from cell III4 and vein V3 from cell III,
(Fig. 779). p. 654 . . PHILANTHID.E.

BB. Fore wings with two closed submarginal cells (Fig. 781, 2d
III + III, and IIL).

C. Prothorax long and narrow, produced anteriorly into a neck.
(As this family includes only a single American species, and
that a very rare one, it is not discussed in this work.)

AMPULICIDjE.

CC. Prothorax short, transverse, p. 655 . PemphreI/ONIDjE.

BBB. Fore wings with only one closed submarginal cell (Fig. 783,
2d III + III,), p. 656 . CRABRONIDiE.

* Vein V* is the vein between cells V and 1st V3 , and between cells V3
and 1st Va. In the species represented in Figure 773 it arises near the middle
of cell III, and extends backward for more than half its length.

f This family includes only two species found in the Rocky Mountain
region, and a single, very rare, one found in the Eastern States. It is not
discussed in this work.

648

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

Family MuTlLLiDiE (Mu-til'li-dae).

The Velvet-ants.

These handsome insects resemble ants in the general
form of the body, but lack the scale-like knot of the pedun¬
cle of the abdomen characteristic of those insects, although
there is a constriction between the first and second abdomi¬
nal segments (Fig. 769). The body is densely
covered with hair, which gives the insects the
appearance of being clothed in velvet ; and as
the body is usually ringed with two or more
strongly contrasting colors, they are very conspicuous. The
colors most commonly worn by the velvet-ants are black
and scarlet. The males are winged and frequent flowers.
The females are wingless; but they run very fast, and can
sting severely.

These insects are abundant in the warmer portions of
our country ; our lists now include one hundred and sixty
North American species. The largest of these and a very
common species is Splicer op hthalma Occident alls (Sphaer-oph-
thal'ma oc-ci-den-ta'lis). This species measures from two-
thirds of an inch to a little more than an inch in length ; it
varies in color, but is usually black and scarlet. It is known
to dig burrows in beaten paths and store in them flies and
other insects. It will also enter bee-hives and kill and eat
bees. In Texas it is known as the Cow-killer ant, because
of a popular superstition that its sting is very dangerous to
live stock.

Several exotic species of Mutilla live in nests of bumble
bees ; but whether they exist there as parasites or as inqui-
lines has not been determined. Species of Mutilla have also
been bred from nests of other digger-wasps, and from those
of certain true wasps.

Fig. 769.

HYMENOPTERA.

O49

Family ScoLllDiE (Sco-li'i-dae).

The Scoliids (Sco'li-zds).

The Scoliids are quite closely related to the preceding
family but differ in their general appearance, resembling
wasps rather than ants. In their habits they do not exhibit
as much intelligence as do most digger-wasps, for although
they make burrows in the earth, it is said that they do not
have the power of building nests and transporting prey to
them for their carnivorous larvae. Instead of this, they dig
in the ground in order to find larvae that have buried them¬
selves to undergo their transformations ; and lay their eggs
upon such larvae. These insects occur in sunny, hot, and
sandy places ; more than forty American species are known.

One of our most common species is Tdphia inornata
(Tiph'i-a in-or-na'ta) ; this is a shining black species, and
measures three fifths of an inch in length
(Fig. 770). It is parasitic upon white grubs,
the larvae of May-beetles. Elis quadrinotcita
(E'lis quad-ri-no-ta'ta) is a magnificent spe- Fig. 77o.
cies common in the South. It is black, with four yellow
spots on the abdomen, and measures nearly or quite one and
one fourth inches in length.

Family SAPYGlDiE (Sa-pyg'i-dae).

The Sapygids ( Sa-pyfgids ).

This is a small family including only two North Ameri¬
can genera, and but little more than twenty species. These
insects are of moderate size, with short legs, and are usually
black, spotted or banded with yellow, rarely entirely black.
So far as their habits are known, they are inquilines in the
nests of solitary wasps and solitary bees.

I

C50

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

Fig. 771 .—Pomfilus,

Family Pompilid^e (Pom-pil'i-dae).

The Spider-wasps .

The spider-wasps are so called because they provision
their nests with spiders. They are slender in form, with long
legs (Fig. 771), and are usually black with
dusky reddish or black wings; sometimes
they are variegated with red or orange. The
peduncle is short, so that the abdomen is very
closely united to the thorax. Many of the
species are of medium size, but some are very
large. In fact, the largest of all known Hymenoptera belong
to this family.

One of the giants of the family is the well-known Taran¬
tula-hawk, Pepsis formosa (Pep'sis for-mo'sa), of the South¬
west, which stores its burrows with Tarantulas. Many a
hard-fought battle does this digger-wasp have with these
enormous spiders; and sometimes it is conquered and igno-
miniously eaten.

Most of the Pompilidae dig burrows in the ground; but
some species of Agenia (A-ge'ni-a) make cells of mud attached
to the lower surface of stones or in the chinks of walls; and
the members of the genus Ceropales (Ce-rop'a-les) are inqui-
lines in the nests of other digger-wasps.

About one hundred and twenty species belonging to this
family are known in our fauna.

Family SPHECID/E (Sphec'i-dae).

The Sphecids ( Sphe'cids ) or the Thread-waisted Wasps.

These are the most commonly observed of all our
digger-wasps, as certain species build their mud nests in the
attics of our houses • and, too, the peculiar shape of the
body makes them very conspicuous. The Sphecidae differ
from the preceding families of digger-wasps in that the pro-

H YMENOP TER A.

6SI

thorax is not prolonged backward on each side to the base
of the fore wing. But the most striking characteristic is
that the first segment of the abdomen is
generally narrowed into a long, smooth,
round petiole (Fig. 772), which suggests
the popular name given above. The ve- FlG. 77z.—peiopceus

. . r . . . r r cementarius.

nation of the wings of one of our more

common species is represented by Fig. 773. The fore wing

in this family has three closed submarginal cells (2d III, IIIB,
and III4), and the last branch of vein V (vein V3) arises be¬
yond the end of the 2d cell III. Most of the species burrow
into sand-banks, and provision their cells with caterpillars
and spiders. But those best known to us are the mud-
daubers. These belong to the genus Pclopceus (Pel-o-poe'us).
They make nests of mud attached to the lower surface of
flat stones or to the ceilings of buildings. These nests usu¬
ally have the form of several tubes an inch or so long placed
side by side, and are provisioned with spiders.

The mud-daubers may be seen in damp places collecting
mud for their nests, or exploring buildings in search of a
place to build. They have a curious habit of jerking their
wings frequently in a nervous manner.

About seventy species of this family occur in this country.

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS.

652

Family LARRIDA2 (Lar'ri-dae).

The Larrids (Lar' rids).

This family is composed of insects of moderate size and
rather slender form. The abdomen is ovoid-
conical in outline (Fig. 774) I there is a single
spine at the apex of the middle tibiae ; the fore
wings have an appendiculate cell (Fig. 775, ap) \

Fig. 774. — Lar - .... ,, .11 .1

raterminata. and the mandibles are usually notched on the
exterior margin.

These insects burrow in sandy places, and provision their

nests chiefly with orthopterous insects. Some species fre¬
quent milk-weed ( Asclepias ) blossoms, but are very difficult
to capture.

More than fifty species have been found in the United
States and Canada; most of them occur in the Southwest.

Family Bembecid^e (Bem-bec'i-dae).

The Bembecids (Bein' be-cids.)

The members of this family are most easily distinguished
from the closely-related forms by the shape of the upper lip,
which distinctly projects. In some genera it not only pro¬
jects, but is prolonged so as to appear like a beak.

Great variations in size occur within the family, The
majority of our species are of moderate size : but some of

H YMENOP TER A . 653

them are among the larger insects of the order. The family
includes two quite distinct subfamilies.

To the Bembecince (Bem-be-ci'nse) belong the smaller
forms, which are usually black with greenish
or greenish-yellow bands. With these the
labrum is longer than the clypeus, forming
a triangular beak (Fig. 776). They burrow
in sand, and provision their nests with flies.

To the Stizince (Sti-zi'nae) Fig. 77g.— Faceof

. . , . Bembex. ly labrum.

belong the giants of the fam¬
ily. With these the labrum is shorter than the
clypeus (Fig. 777). Our best-known represen-
_Faceof tative is the Cicada-killer, Sphecius speciosus
sphccius, 1, labrum. (Sphe'ci-us spe-ci-o'sus). It is a formidable in¬
sect, measuring one and one fourth inches in length. It is
black, sometimes of a rusty color, and has the abdomen
banded with yellow (Fig. 778). It digs burrows in the earth,

Fig. 778. — Sphccius speciosus.

two feet or more in depth, and provisions each with a Cica¬
da. Many a Cicada-song has been suddenly silenced because
the singer was pounced upon and carried off alive but help¬
less to be buried in the den of this fierce, handsome insect
of prey.

654

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

Family Nyssonid^: (Nys-son'i-dae).

The Nyssonids {Nys-so'nids).

These digger-wasps are of medium size. Some of them
are remarkable for their close resemblance in form and mark¬
ings to true wasps of the family Eumenidae ; but they do not
plait their wings like the true wasps. Little is recorded re¬
garding their habits; some species provision their nests with
nymphs of leaf-hoppers, others with spittle-insects (Homop-
tera). It is said that the species of the typical genus Nysson
(Nys son) have the habit of feigning death and dropping to
the ground when alarmed.

We have about fifty species of this family in our fauna.

Family Pi 1 1 LA nth I DM (PhiJan'thi-dae).

The Philanthids {Phi-la n't bids).

These digger-wasps are easily recognized by the charac¬
ters given in the table above. Figure 779 represents the wing

of Cerceris (Cer-ce'ris) and shows the typical venation. The
males are peculiar in having a fringe of hairs resembling a
mustache on the free edge of the clypeus on each side.

The Philanthids burrow in the earth. Some provision
their nests with bees; others with beetles. The family con-
tains about seventy-five North American species.

HYMENOPTERA .

055

Family MlMESIDiE (Mi-mes'i-dae).

The Mimesids (. Mi-me'sids ).

The Mimesids are small digger-wasps in which the base
of the abdomen is slender, forming a petiole
much like that of the Sphecids, but differing in
being flattened and usually furrowed above
(Fig. 780). These digger-wasps are much
smaller than the true thread-waisted wasps.

Less than a score of North American species
are known. They make their burrows in
the pith of brambles, and provision them FlG* 78°sid.A M,me
with Aphids or Psyllids.

Family PEMPHREDONID/E (Pem-phre-don'i-dae).

The Peniphredonids {Pem-phre-do’ nids).

Most of the species of this family are slender insects, of
small size and shining black color. They can be distin-

Kig. 782.

guished from the closely-related families by the
presence of two, and only two, closed submarginal
cells (Fig. 781, 2d III -(- II IB and III4). It is a
small family, including scarcely a dozen North
American species.

The Pemphredonids usually burrow in the pith
of dry branches and provision their burrows with plant-lice.

656

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

A very common species in the East is Stigmus frater7ius
(Stig'mus fra-ter'nus). This insect measures one fifth of an
inch or less in length, and makes very tortuous burrows in
the pith of sumach (Fig. 782). Other common members of
the family are larger.

Family CRABRONIDS (Cra-bron'i-dae).

The Crabronids (Cra! bro-nids).

The Crabronids can be distinguished from all other digger

Fig. 783. — Wings of Cralo singularis.

wasps that occur in this country by the vena¬
tion of the fore wings, in which there is only
one closed submarginal cell (Fig. 783,
2d III-f-III5). The head is gener¬
ally large, and nearly square when
viewed from above, and sometimes
f g broader than the thotax (Fig. 784).

c'rabro. The different members of this

family vary greatly in their nesting habits.
Some mine in the pith of such plants as sumach
and elder; some bore in more solid wood;
some dig burrows in the ground ; and others
make use of any suitable hole they can find,
often the deserted burrow of some other in¬
sect. These insects usually provision their nests
with flies; but we have found spiders in the
nests of some.

Fig. 785. — Nest of
Trypoxylon fri-
gidum .

HYMENOP TER A.

657

We have found the nests of Trypoxylon frigidurn (Try-
pox'y-lon frig'i-dum) very common in branches of sumach
(Fig. 785), more common perhaps than those of any other
insect except the little carpenter-bee, Ceratina . The cells
of the nest of Trypoxylon are separated by partitions of mud,
and the pupa when full grown makes a very slender cocoon,
with the upper end rounded and sometimes slightly swollen,
and the lower end blunt and of denser texture than the
remainder of the cocoon. The adult insect is very slender
and lacks the yellow bands on the abdomen, possessed by
most members of this family.

Superfamily VESPINA (Ves-pi'na).

The True Wasps.

All members of this superfamily are winged, and when
at rest fold their wings lengthwise like a fan. In this last
respect they differ from all other Hymenoptera except a
single genus of Chalcis-flies, Leucospis (Leu-cos'pis). The
prothorax is prolonged backwards on each side to the
base of the front wing ; the eyes are kidney-shaped ; and the
legs are not formed for burrowing, being free from spines and
bristles.

Three families are included in this superfamily; these
can be separated by the following table : —

A. Antennas clavate or knobbed at tip. p. 657 . Masarid^e.

AA. Antennas filiform or nearly so.

B. Tibias of the middle legs with a single terminal spur; tarsal
claws armed with a tooth, p. 658 . Eumenid^e.

BB. Tibiae of the middle legs with two terminal spurs; tarsal
claws simple, p. 660 . VespidjE.

Family MASARIDJE (Ma-sar'i-dae).

The Guest-wasps.

This is a small family of which only seven species are
known to occur in the United States. These are found in
Texas and the far West. As yet nothing is known regarding
43

658

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

the habits of our species. But as an European species has
been bred from the nest of a digger-wasp, it is inferred that
the members of this family are inquilines.

Family EUMENID/E (Eu-men'i-dae).

The Solitary Wasps .

All of the variations in habits found among digger-wasps
occur in this family. Some are miners, digging tunnels in
the earth ; some are carpenters, cutting tubular nests in wood
and then showing a mason’s skill by partitioning their tun¬
nels off into cells with mud. While others are masons pure
and simple, and build oval or globular mud-nests which they
fasten to twigs of trees ; such nests often contain many
cells. All of these wasps are predaceous, provisioning their
nests with insects.

One species, Eumenes fraternus (Eu'me-nes fra-ter'-
nus), makes a neat little nest, which appears like a miniature

Fig. 786. — Eumenes fraternus and its nest.

water-jug (Fig. 786). These Mason-wasps have a very char¬
acteristic form. The peduncle of the abdomen is shaped
like a bell with a long handle. The segment of the ab¬
domen next to the peduncle is large and globe-shaped. The
segments behind this taper off into a point, giving the whole

H YMENOP TER A .

abdomen the shape of an old-fashioned
species provisions its nest with caterpil¬
lars, and frequently with the canker-worm.

The greater number of our solitary
wasps belong to the genus Odynerus (Od-
y-ne'rus). In this genus the abdomen is
joined to the thorax by a very short ped¬
uncle. The shape of the body and fre¬
quently the coloration resemble those of
the social wasps known as yellow-jackets,
although usually the body is more slender
and smaller. The common species are
quite neighborly ; and owing to this res¬
emblance to the yellow-jackets, they in¬
spire us with a fear that is out of all
proportion to their will or ability to inflict
pain.

The wasps of this genus exhibit a great
variation in habits. Many species burrow
in the stems of pithy plants, making a series
of cells separated by mud partitions; other
species will avail themselves of any con¬
venient cavity in which to make their nests,
frequently utilizing the deserted nests of
mud-daubers. In this case a single cell of
a mud-dauber is divided by a transverse
partition making two cells for the smaller

earring.

Fig. 787. — Monobia quadridens. FlG. 788.

Odynerus. One year these wasps plastered up many of the

56o

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

keyholes in our house, including those in the bureaus ; thus
constructing for us locks that required a good deal of time
and industry on our part to open. Some species of Odyne -
rus are masons constructing nests entirely of mud. One of
our species makes a nest about the size of a hen’s egg. This
is composed of hard clay, fastened to a twig of a bush, and
contains many cells.

Probably the most skilful of architects among our soli¬
tary wasps is Monobia quadndens (Mo-no^bi-a quadTi-dens),
a species common in most of the states east of the Missis¬
sippi (Fig. 787). This insect bores a tunnel in solid wood.
Figure 788 represents a nest in our collection which was
made in a board in the side of a barn. The partitions are
made of mud. Kach cell contained a pupa when the nest
was opened ; so we do not know with what the nest was
provisioned.

Family VESPID.E (Ves'pi-dae).

The Social Wasps .

Here again, as with the ants, we find colonies consisting of
three forms of individuals, males, females, and workers. The
colonies exist for only one season ; the males and workers
die in the autumn ; the females hibernate and each starts a
new colony in the spring. In the early part of the season
only workers are produced ; later the males and females ap¬
pear. The three forms are similar in coloring. They are all
winged, and the queens and workers are provided with ven¬
omous stings. The queens are larger than the workers, and
the males have seven segments in the abdomen, while the
others have only six. The male wasps do not sting, but they
bear such a close resemblance to the belligerent, well-armed
workers that this interesting bit of knowledge is entirely
useless. When we see a hornet our interest in its sex hardly
leads us to test it to see whether it will sting, or to examine
it closely to ascertain if it has seven abdominal segments.
If male wasps wish to get any credit for their amiability,

H YMEXOP TER A .

66 1

they would do well to change their spots, so that they can be
distinguished at a distance.

Social wasps build their nests in the ground, or attach
them to bushes and trees, or to the roofs or eaves of buildings.
The nests are made of paper composed of bits of wood con¬
verted into a paste by the action of the jaws. Probably these
insects add a fluid excreted by the mouth to the fibres of
wood in order to make the paste, but of this we have no
definite knowledge.

The species that build their nests above ground make a
grayish paper composed of fibres of weather-worn but not
decayed wood. This material is collected from stumps of
trees, fences, and the sides of unpainted buildings. This
paper is comparatively strong ; so that, in those cases where
the combs are enclosed in an envelope, the envelope is com,
posed of sheets of paper of considerable size, a single sheet
often completely enveloping a nest.

But most of the species that build their nests in the
ground make their paper out of partially-decayed wood.
This paper is brownish in color and is very fragile; it would
not be suitable, therefore, for use in nests built in exposed
places. Even when the nest is built in a hole in the ground,
the use of this fragile material necessitates a different style
of architecture. The enveloping layers of the nest, instead
of being composed of sheets of considerable size, are made
up of small, overlapping, shell-like portions, each firmly
joined by its edges to the underlying parts.

The social wasps are predaceous ; and they feed their
young upon insects which they have masticated. These
wasps are also fond of sweets of flowers, the juices of fruits,
and of honey-dew. They collect the honey-dew from leaves
in the vicinity of Aphids without, so far as we know, render¬
ing the Aphids any service in return.

Except in California, only two genera of social wasps
occur in the United States. These are Polistes (Po-lis'tes)
and Vespa (Ves'pa). Each of these genera is represented

662

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

by a number of species. In California there is a single repre¬
sentative of a third genus, Polybia (Po-lyb'i-a). This genus
differs from the other two genera, in having the first abdom¬
inal segment long and slender, forming a peduncle. Our
species is Polybia jlavitarsis (P. flav-i-tar'sis).

Polistes. — In this genus the abdomen is long and spindle-

shaped (Fig. 789). The species
are black, ringed with yellow, or
are brownish. Their nests con¬
sist each of a single comb, sus¬
pended by a peduncle, and are
\ h not enclosed in an envelope (Fig.

790). In the fall these fellows
are quite as familiar as the mud-
Fig. 789. — Polistes. daubers, which they resemble in

color. However, they are easily distinguished from these,
as the abdomen is not on such an absurdly long peduncle,

Fig. 790.— Nest of Polistes.

and their wings fold like fans. They come into our houses
searching for warm crevices in which to pass the winter.

Vespa. — To this genus belong the wasps commonly
known as yellow - jackets and as hornets. With these
insects the body is comparatively short and
rather stout (Fig. 791); the abdomen is at¬
tached to the thorax by a very short peduncle ;
the color is black, spotted and banded with
yellow or yellowish white. The species of this
genus enclose the combs of their nest with a
spherical paper envelope (Fig. 792). An y person fig. 791. — Ves/a.

II Y MEN OP TEE A.

663

who has no respect for the rights of yellow-jackets has be¬
fore him a lesson which he will have no difficulty in learning,
if he takes the pains to disturb one of the oval, gray paper
nests commonly found hanging from the eaves of buildings.
The yellow and black mass of seething and buzzing ven¬
geance that can pour out of the hole in the bottom of one
of these nests seems almost as wonderful as the miraculous
multiplication of the loaves and fishes. And these insects
do not threaten more than they can perform : their painful

Fig. 792.— Nest of Vtrs/a.

stings are so well known, that neither man nor beast tres¬
passes willingly on their domains. Their nest is a real palace
of papier-mach£. It consists of several horizontal combs
suspended one above the other, with commodious galleries
between, and all enveloped by an elaborate covering made
of many folds of water-proof paper. The yellow-jackets are
clever and original artisans. Once we chanced, most inad¬
vertently, to lift a board and thereby tear off the whole roof
of a nest ; naturally we beat a hasty retreat. On returning
to the spot a few days later we found the nest neatly and
thoroughly covered with a sloping water-proof roofing of

664

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

paper, although this was probably the first time in these
yellow-jackets’ history that such a problem in architecture
had occurred. When these wasps wish to enlarge their
nest they tear away the inner layers of the envelope, add to
the sides of the comb, and put on new layers on the out¬
side of the envelope. The yellow-jackets that build their
habitation in the ground excavate a hole which is enlarged
gradually as the colony grows.

Superfamily Apina (A-pi'na).

The Bees.

The bees can be distinguished from all other Hymenop-
tera by the form of the basal segment of the hind tarsi (Fig.
737> c)> This segment is more or less dilated, flattened, and
generally hairy, and bears an apparatus for collecting and
carrying pollen. In the inquiline bees, however, this seg¬
ment is narrower, and is not furnished with organs for col¬
lecting and carrying pollen.

Sometimes, in the case of those species that most closely
approach the wasps in structure, it is difficult to dis¬
tinguish bees by a study of the tarsi alone. But
there is a microscopic character which is said to be
reliable even in these cases. It is said that the bees
differ from all other Hymenoptera in the form of the
hairs clothing the body, which, at least those of the
thorax, are branched or plumose (Fig. 793), while in
all other members of the order they are simple.

The different species of bees exhibit great varia¬
tions in habits: some are solitary, each female pro¬
viding a nest for her young; some are inquilines,
1 laying their eggs in the nests of other bees; and a
FlG' 793' few are social, of which the honey-bee is the most
familiar example. But in all the nest is provisioned with
pollen or honey, or both. In this respect the bees differ

HYMENOPTERA.

665

distinctly from the wasps and the digger-wasps, which pro¬
vision their nests with other insects or with spiders.

The superfamily Apina includes two families: the An-
drenidae or short-tongued bees, and the Apidae or long-
tongued bees. These can be separated as follows : —

A. Bees with the terminal portion of the lower lip, the glossa, flat¬
tened and shorter than the mentum; and with the basal segments
of the labial palpi not unlike the following segments, p. 665.

ANDRENIDAE.

AA. Bees with the glossa slender, not flattened, and longer than the
mentum ; and with the basal segments of the labial palpi elongate,
p. 666 . Apidae,

Family Andrenidae (An-dren'i-dae).

The Short-tongued Bees .

The family Andrenidae includes several genera of bees
which agree in having the glossa shorter than
the mentum, and flattened (Fig. 794)-
some genera the glossa is spear-shaped, in
others it is heart-shaped.

The different genera of this family vary
greatly in habits, but none of the species are
social. Among the more common short-
tongued bees are some that make their nests
in the ground, and on this account are termed
mining-bees. It should be remembered, how¬
ever, that some of the Apidae are also mining-
bees, and that not all of the Andrenidae are Fig. ^.-Labium

miners. mentuni; A pa)

, . . , „ . PUSS & &lassa

The nest of a mining-bee usually consists

of a tunnel, more or less branched, each branch leading to
a single cell. The walls of these cells are glazed, appearing
like the surface of earthenware. In each cell there is stored
a quantity of pollen and nectar-paste, an egg is laid with
this food, and the cell is then closed up.

Among the larger of our common mining-bees are those

666

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

of the genus Andrena (An-dre'na). Some of these nearly
or quite equal in size the workers of the honey-bee. They
build their nests in grassy fields, sinking a perpendicular
shaft with branches leading sidewise to the cells. The
main shaft sometimes extends to a depth of more than one
foot. These bees, though strictly solitary, each female
building her own nest, frequently build their nests near to¬
gether, forming large villages. Sometimes a village, or we
might say a city, of this kind, covering only one square rod
of ground, will include several thousand nests. While
writing this account we have received from a correspondent
a description of a collection of nests of this kind which was
fifteen feet in diameter, and in the destruction of which
about two thousand bees were killed — a terrible slaughter
of innocent creatures !

The smallest mining-bees, in fact the smallest of all our
bees, belong to the genus Halictus (Ha-lic'tus). These
measure from one one-tenth to three one-tenths of an
inch in length. They usually burrow in the sides of cliff’s,
and especially in sand-banks, which often look as if they
had been used as targets for practice with a shot-gun, so
thickly are they studded with burrows of these bees. A
remarkable feature in the habits of the bees of this genus is
that several females unite in making a burrow into a bank,
after which each female makes passages extending sidewise
from this main burrow or public corridor to her own cells.
While A?idrena builds villages composed of individual
homes, Halictus makes cities composed of apartment-
houses.

Family Apid^E (A'pi-dae).

The Long-tongued Bees.

In the Apidae we find that the lower lip has been highly
specialized for the procuring of nectar from deep flowers.
Here the glossa is slender and greatly elongate, being longer

H Y MEN OP T ERA . 667

than the mentum (Fig. 795) ; the basal segments of the
labial palpi are also elongate.

A remarkable difference in habits exists
among the different species of this family :
some are solitary; others are inquilines;
and a few are social. Among the solitary
species we find an even greater variation in
the form of the nest than we found among
the solitary wasps or among the digger-
wasps. Some of these bees are miners,
digging tunnels in the ground ; some are
masons, making their nests out of mortar¬
like mud ; some are carpenters, boring
tunnels in the pith of plants or in solid
wood ; and some are leaf-cutters, lining
their nests with pieces of leaves or of petals
of flowers. We have space to describe the
habits of only a few of these.

I. THE SOLITARY LONG-TONGUED BEES.

The Leaf-cutter Bees, Megachile (Meg-
a-chi'le). — The bees of the genus Megachile &lossa-
have the curious habit of making cells for their young out
of neatly-cut pieces of leaves. These cells are packed away
in such secure places that one does not often find them ;
but it is a very easy thing to find fragments of leaves from
which the pieces have been cut by bees. The leaves of
various plants are used for this purpose, but rose-leaves are
used more frequently than any other kind. In Figure
796 there are represented one of these bees, its nest, and
a spray of rose-leaves from which pieces have been cut by
the bee.

The species represented here, Megachile acuta (M. a-cu'ta),
is a carpenter as well as a leaf-cutter. It first makes a tun¬
nel in wood, often selecting that which is partially decayed ;
then it proceeds to build a thimble-shaped tube at the bot-

668

THE STUDY OF INSECTS .

tom of this tunnel. For this purpose it cuts from the
leaves oblong pieces, each of which forms a part of a side
and the bottom of the thimble-shaped tube. Two such
pieces had been cut from the lower leaf on the left side of
the spray figured here. When the thimble-shaped tube is
completed, the bee partially fills it with a paste of pollen
and nectar, and then places an egg upon the supply of food.
She then cuts several circular pieces of leaves, the diameter

Fig. 796.— A leaf-cutter bee, nest, and rose-leaves cut by the bee.

of which is a little greater than the diameter of the tube, and
forces them into the open end of it, thus making a tightly-
fitting plug ; three of these circular pieces had been cut from
the spray figured. Usually several cells of this kind are
placed end to end in a burrow ; and sometimes many bees will
build their nests near together in the same piece of wood.

The leaf-cutter bees do not always bore tunnels in which

HYMEN OP TER A.

669

to place their cells. We have found these cells in a crack
between shingles on a roof, in the cavity of a large branch
of sumach, beneath stones lying on the ground, and in
Florida in the tubular leaves of a pitcher-plant.

Some species of bees make nests similar to those of the
leaf-cutter bees, except'that the cells are formed of pieces of
petals of flowers. The petals of Pelargonium are often used
for this purpose.

The small Carpenter-bee, Ceratina diipla (Ce-rat'i-na
du'pla). — The nests of this bee are built in dead twigs of
sumach and in the hollows of brambles and other plants.
They are more common than those of any other of our
solitary bees that build in these situations. This is a dainty
little bee, about a quarter of an inch long, and of a metallic
blue color. She always selects a twig with a soft pith
which she excavates with her mandibles, and so makes a
long tunnel. Then she gathers pollen and puts it in the
bottom of the nest, lays an egg on it, and then makes a par¬
tition out of pith-chips, which serves as a roof to this cell
and a floor to the one above it. This process she repeats
until the tunnel is nearly full, then she rests in the space
above the last cell, and waits for her children to grow up.
The lower one hatches first; and, after it has attained its
growth, it tears down the partition above it, and then waits
patiently for the one above to do the same. Finally, after
the last one in the top cell has matured, the mother leads
forth her full-fledged family in a flight into the sunshine.
This is the only case known to the writer where a solitary
bee watches her nest till her young mature. After the last
of the brood has emerged from its cell, the substance of
which the partitions were made, and which has been forced
to the bottom of the nest by the young bees when making
their escape, is cleaned out by the family, the old bee and
the young ones all working together. Then the nest is used
again by one of the bees. We have collected hundreds of
these nests, and, by opening different nests at different sea-

0?O

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

sons, have gained an idea of what goes on in a single nest.
There are two broods each year. The mature bees of the
fall brood winter in the nests.

The Large Carpenter-bee, Xylocopa virginica (Xy-loc'o-pa
vir-gin'i-ca). — This is a large insect, resembling a bumblebee
in size, and somewhat in appearance. But it can be easily
distinguished from a bumblebee, as the female has a dense
brush of hairs on the hind leg, instead of a basket for carry¬
ing pollen. This bee builds its nest in solid wood, and some¬
times excavates a tunnel a foot in length. These tunnels
are similar to those of the carpenter-wasp, Monobia quadri-
dens (Fig. 788) ; but differ in being provisioned with a paste
of pollen and nectar, and in the structure of the partitions.
These are made of chips of wood, securely cemented to¬
gether, and arranged in a closely-wound spiral. This
arrangement of the chips is easily seen when the lower side
of a partition is examined ; but the upper side of a partition,
which forms the floor of the cell above it, is made concave
and very smooth, so that the arrangement of the chips is
not visible.

II. THE GUEST-BEES OR INQUILINES.

Although bees are proverbially industrious, we find
many loafers in the family. We do not refer to the lazy
males of those species in which the females are hard workers,
but to certain species in which both sexes are alike idle,
and dependent upon the exertions of other species of bees.
These idle species are called guest-bees, or inquilines, be¬
cause they are reared in the nests of other bees, who act,
willingly or unwillingly, as hosts.

The guest-bees are entertained both by solitary bees and
by social bees ; but each species of guest-bee inhabits the
nests of a particular kind of working bee. Thus the nests
of certain bees are visited by certain guest-bees, while those
of other species are infested by different guests. This habit
of sponging their living has had a degrading effect on the
guest-bees ; for we find that they are not merely idle, but

IIYMENOPTERA.

671

are actually unable to work ; as shown by the fact that the
organs for collecting and carrying pollen have been lost
through disuse.

The inquiline bees that infest the nests of solitary bees
resemble the cuckoo-flies in habits, watching their oppor¬
tunity to steel into a partially completed nest, and, cuckoo¬
like, laying an egg there. The larva of the guest-bee hatch¬
ing first is able to devour the food stored there, and thus
starves the rightful occupant of the nest. We have in our
collection many nests of solitary bees in which more than
half of the cells were inhabited by inquilines.

The relations existing between the solitary bees and
their unwelcome guests are easy to understand ; but when
we study the nests of bumblebees we find that they, too,
have guests : but in this case the guests are apparently wel¬
come, although, so far as we have been able to learn, they
are of no use to the colony.

The inquilines infesting the nests of bumblebees belong
to the genus Psithyrus (Psith'y-rus). These bees so closely
resemble bumblebees in appearance and structure that it is
extremely difficult to determine whether a male is a
Psithyrus or a Bombus\ but the females are easily distin¬
guished, for in Psithyrus the pollen-basket of the hind legs
has been lost through disuse. In Psithyrus there are only
two forms of individuals, the males and the females, there
being no working caste, as with bumblebees.

The female Psithyrus lays her eggs in a bumblebee’s
nest, and when the larv$ hatch they are cared for by the
bumblebees as if they belonged in the nest. And even after
the guests have reached maturity they come and go in the
nest without being disturbed, although they never lend a help¬
ing mandible in carrying on the work of the colony. Some¬
times these guests very closely resemble their hosts in size
and color, but in other cases the Psithyrus is marked very
differently from the Bombus that entertains it. We cannot
suppose, therefore, that the guests are mistaken for mem-

6j2

THE STUD Y OF INSECTS, .

bers of the family. Neither is it probable that the bumble¬
bees are unable to drive their guests away. Let any one in¬
clined to this view disturb a bumblebee’s nest, and he will
probably have an increased appreciation of their powers of
defence. These facts have led some naturalists to believe that
these aristocratic guests perform some important and neces¬
sary duties conducive to the general prosperity of the whole
colony, although as yet we have not the slightest hint as to
what these duties may be.

III. THE SOCIAL BEES.

The social bees are so called because many individuals
work together to build a common home. Here, as with the
ants and with the social wasps, we find three forms of in¬
dividuals — the males or drones, the females or queens, and
the workers. The workers are a caste of females that rarely
lay eggs, but are especially adapted for performing the
labors of the colony.

Our native social bees belong to the genus Bonibus , and
are commonly known as bumblebees. Of these more than
fifty species have been described from North America.
We have also an introduced, domesticated species, the
Honey-bee, which now lives wild in all parts of our country,
building its nest in hollow trees and in other situations.

The Bumblebees, Bombus (Bom'bus). — The clumsy rover,
the bumblebee, is an old friend of us all. As children we
caught her off thistle-blossoms and imprisoned her in
emptied milkweed pods, and bade her sing for us. We
robbed her nest in the hay-field, and tried to believe that
the strongly-flavored honey, mixed with dirt, was delicious.
And all our lives the sound of her droning has brought to
us visions of blue skies, roadsides golden with buttercups,
and fields purple with clover-blossoms. And she has de¬
served all the attention and affection bestowed upon her,
because she is usually good-natured and companionable.
She is a happy-go-lucky insect, and takes life as it comes

HYMENOPTERA. 67 3

without any of the severe disciplining and exact methods
of her cousin, the honey-bee.

With the bumblebees the queens are larger than either
the workers or the males, and are the only ones that live
through the winter. In early spring we often see one of
these great queens flying low, and inspecting our meadows
and pastures for a building-place. She chooses some de¬
serted mouse-nest in the meadow, and places within it a ball
of pollen, upon which she lays some eggs. As soon as the
larva: hatch they eat into the pollen-mass in all directions,
and when full grown make for themselves silken cocoons,
and change topupse. These cocoons the old bees strengthen
with wax, and after the young bees vacate them they are
used as storing cells for honey. This explains the irregu¬
larity of the bumblebee-comb. The first broods of the sea¬
son are workers, and relieve the queen of all duties except
laying the eggs. Later in the summer males and females
appear, and it can be said to the credit of the bumblebee
queens that they are not jealous, but allow the young queens
to live with them in the nest. In the autumn the colony
breaks up, and all of the bees, except the young queens, perish.
These crawl away into some protected place and pass the
winter. In the spring each queen that has survived the
winter founds a new colony, performing, until a brood of
workers has been developed, both the duties of queen and

The Honey-bee, Apis nullified (A pis mel-lif l-ca). Neat
rows of hives on a sunny slope, with an orchard on one side
and wide-stretching meadows on the other, the busy hum
of comers and goers of this city of cities, the odor of honey
weighing down every passing breeze these constitute
one of the most home-like possessions of the ideal country-

home.

The honey-bee, through its useful products, has been
known and cared for by man for centuries. Philosophers
have written about it, poets have sung its praises, and nat-
44

674

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

uralists have studied it during past ages, until there is
probably no other insect with which man has such an inti¬
mate acquaintance. The honey-bee was originally a Euro¬
pean species, but has been domesticated the world over.
It was introduced into America more than three centuries
ago, and escaping swarms have stocked our forests with
what we call wild bees, for when free they almost univer¬
sally build their nests in hollow trees. These insects offer a
no less interesting study of communistic society than do
ants. There are in each community three forms of indi¬
viduals — the queen or female, the drones or males, and the
workers, which are imperfectly developed females. The
worker is our common acquaintance, the dull-black and
gold-colored companion of our walks, that we watch with
interest as she ransacks the flowers of a garden or a way-
side for her booty of nectar or pollen, now bending low a
violet or a clover-blossom, now plunging head foremost into
a hollyhock or a lily, from which she emerges dusty with the
gold of pollen-doors which barred her way to nectar-cham-
bers. We marvel at her industry ; but she is ever driven on
with the sense of her responsibilities : for the worker-sister¬
hood must do all the work of the hive, collect and store the
food, manufacture the wax, build the comb, take care of the
footless, helpless larvae, fight the battles for protection, and
manage affairs generally.

The drones are larger than the workers, and are reared
in larger cells. If honeycombs be examined, some sheets will
be seen to be composed of larger cells than those of the more
common type. It is in cells of this kind that the eggs are
laid which are to develop into males. In shape the drones
are broader and blunter than the workers. They are few in
numbers, and are only present in the hive during the early
summer. After the swarming season is over, these gentle¬
men of leisure are driven out of the hive by the workers or
are killed by them.

The queen is larger than a worker, and has a long,

IIYMENOPTERA.

t>75

pointed body. She is developed in a cell which differs
greatly from the ordi¬
nary hexagonal cell of
honeycomb. This cell
is large, cylindrical, and
extends vertically. In
Figure 797 the begin¬
nings of two queen-
cells are represented on
the lower edge of the
comb, and a completed

cell extends over the F,g. 797.-Comb of the Honey-bee, with queen-
face of the comb near the left side. From the lower end
of this cell hangs a lid, which was cut away by the workers
to allow the queen to emerge.

The larvae that are to develop into either workers or
drones, and which are contained in hexagonal, horizontal
cells, are fed with honey and bee-bread. But the occupant
of a queen-cell is furnished with very different food — a sub¬
stance called by bee-keepers royal jelly. This royal jelly is
a substance which resembles blanc-mange in color and con¬
sistency. It is excreted from the mouth by the workers,
and is a very nutritious food.

It has been demonstrated that in the egg state there is
no difference between a worker and a queen. When the
workers wish to develop a queen they tear down the parti¬
tions between three adjacent cells containing eggs that
under ordinary conditions would develop into workers.
Then they destroy two of the eggs, and build a queen-cell
over the third. When the egg hatches they feed the larva
with royal jelly, and it develops into a queen.

In early summer several queen-cells are provided in each
colony; as soon as a queen is developed from one of these
the old queen attempts to destroy her. But the young
queen is guarded by the workers, and then the old queen

6;6

THE STUDY OF INSECTS.

with a goodly portion of her subjects swarm out, and they
go off to start a new colony.

This swarming of the honey-bee is essential to the con¬
tinued existence of the species ; for in social insects it is as
necessary that the colonies be multiplied as it is that there
should be a reproduction of individuals. Otherwise, as the
colonies were destroyed the species would become extinct.
With the social wasps and with the bumblebees the old
queen and the young ones remain together peacefully in the
nest ; but at the close of the season the nest is abandoned
by all as an unfit place for passing the winter, and in the
following spring each young queen founds a new colony.
Thus there is a tendency towards a great multiplication of
colonies. But with the honey-bee the habit of storing
food for winter, and the nature of the habitations of these
insects, renders it possible for the colonies to exist indefi¬
nitely. And thus if the old and young queens remained
together peacefully there would be no multiplication of colo¬
nies, and the species would surely die out in time. We see,
therefore, that what appears to be merely jealousy on the
part of the queen honey-bee is an instinct necessary to the
continuance of the species,

The sting of a queen-bee is no ignoble weapon, but it is
never used except against a rival queen. When several
young queens mature at the same time there is a pitched
battle for supremacy, and the last left living on the field be¬
comes the head of the colony. One morning we found the
lifeless bodies of fifteen young queens cast forth from a
single hive — a monument to the powers of the surviving
Amazon in triumphant possession within.

The materials used by bees are wax and propolis, which
serve as materials for construction : and honey and bee-
bread, used for food.

The comb is made of wax, which is an excretion of the
bee. When a colony needs wax, many of the workers gorge
themselves with honey, and then hang quietly in a curtain-

riAT^ia;

H YMENOP TER A.

677

like mass, the upper bees clinging to the roof of the hive,
and the lower ones to the bees above them. After about
twenty-four hours there appears on the lower surface of the
abdomen of each bee little plates of wax that are forced out
from openings between the ventral abdominal segments
called wax-pockets. Other workers attend to this curtain
and collect the wax as fast as it appears, and use it at once in
constructing comb. As it requires about twenty-one pounds
of honey to make one pound of wax, the bees, who are true
economists, make this expensive product go as far as possi¬
ble. The hexagonal cells of the honeycomb afford an
ideally compact arrangement, as if the bees were mathema¬
ticians and had fully planned to secure the most room in the
least space. The cells of the combs are used both for
rearing the young and for storing food.

Propolis is a cement used for cementing up crevices, and
is made of a resin which the bees collect from the buds of
various trees, but especially the poplar.

Honey is made from the nectar of flowers and is taken
into the honey stomach of the bee, and there changed into
honey, and then regurgitated into the cells of the comb.

Bee-bread is made from the pollen of flowers, which the
bees bring in on the plates fringed with hairs on the hind
legs.

There is a large literature concerning the intelligence of
bees, but those who love to see rather than merely to think
about interesting things will find keenest pleasure in intimate
associations with these little communists. One soon learns
to love them; and the reward of studying them sympathet¬
ically is a satisfaction to the mind far beyond the sweetness
of honey to the palate.

•u.

J

INDEX AND GLOSSARY

Abbot’s Bag- worm, 220
Abdomen and its appendages, 66
Aberrant long-horned beetles, 566
Acalyptrate Muscidae, 484
Acanthia hirundinis, 140 ; A. Iectu-
laria, 140
Acanthiida:, 140
Acarina, 42
Accessory cells, igg
Achorutes nivicola, 85
Acilius, 525

Acoloithus falsarius, 226
Acontia candefacta, 300
Acorn-weevils, 593
Acrididae, 108
Acroceridae, 458
Acroneura, 94

Acronycta americana, 307 ; A. ham-
amelis, 308; A. morula, 307
Actias = Tropoea
Actinomeris, 392
Aculeata, 601, 631
Adalia bi punctata, 535
Adephaga, 496
Adipose tissue, 71
Adirondack Black-fly, 453
Adult, 55
jEgialitidae, 584
Aeronautic Spiders, 25
Esophagus, 71
Agalena naevia, 32
Agaelnidte, 30
Agamic form, 158
Agaristidac, 313
Agenia, 650
Aglais milberti. 402
Agrilus ruficollis, 550
Ailanthus-worm, 357
Alaptus cxcisus, 630
Alausmyops, 548; A. oculatus, 547

Alder-blight, 161, 391
Aletia argillacea, 301
Aleyrodes, 163
Aleyrodidae, 163
Alimentary canal, 67, 71
Alkaline lakes, 487
Allorhina nitida, 566
Alnus incana, 216
Alsophila pometaria, 276
Alula, 421
Alulet, 421

Alypia langtonii, 314; A. octomacu
lata, 314

Ambient vein, 421
Amblychila cylindriformis, 518
Ambrosia artemisiaefolia, 300
Ambrysus, 133
Ambush-bugs, 138
American Copper, 390
American Copper Hind-wing, 302
American Dagger, 307
American Lappet, 363.

American Saw-fly, 612
American Tortoise-shell, 402
Ampelophaga myron, 336
Amphibolips coccine®, 618; A.

spongifica, 618
Amphicerus bicaudatus, 553
Amphipyra pyramidoides, 302
Amphizoa, 521
Amphizoidae, 521
Anabrus, 115
Ansea andria, 410
Anal angle, 64
Anal veins, 64

Analytical tables, method of using,
10

Anasa tristis, 144
Ancyloxipha numitor, 373
Andrena, 590, 666

679

68o

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

Andrenidse, 665
Andricus californicus, 620
Angle-wings, 401
Angoumois Grain-moth, 258
Angular-winged Katydid, 113
Angulifera Moth, 355
Animal Kingdom, 4
Anisopteryx = Alsophila
Anisota, 347 ; A. senator ia, 348; A.

stigma, 348; A. virginiensis, 348
Anomala lucicola, 562
Anomalous Brachycera, 417
Anomalous Ncmatocera, 417
Anosia plexippus, 397, 408
Ante-coxal piece of the metasternum,
504

Antelope Beetle, 555
Antennae, 59, 500
Anthicidae, 586

Anthocharis, 385; see also Synchlog
Anthocharis genutia, 385
Anthomyiids, 483
Anthomyiinae, 483

Anthonomus quadrigibbus, 594 ; A.
signatus, 594

Anthrenus museorum, 540 ; A.

scrophulariae, 539; A. varius, 540
Anthribidse, 598
Ant-lions, 175, 182
Ants, 157, 59°. 633
Aorta, 72

Apatela = Acronycta
Apex, 64
Aphididae, 156
Aphidius, 626
Aphids, 121, 156

Aphis brassicae, 159; A. maidis, 158;

A. mali, 159
Aphis-lions, 175, 180
Aphodian Dung-beetles, 558
Aphodius fimetarius, 558
Aphrophora quadrangularis, 153
Aphycus eruptor, 628
Apidae, 666
Apina, 664
Apiocera, 462
Apioceridaj, 462
Apiocerids, 462
Apis mellifica, 673
Appendiculate cell, 607
Apple, beetles infesting, 486, 549,
565, 569, 57i, 573, 58o, 594; cater¬
pillars infesting, 218, 223, 241, 253,
254, 265, 267, 300, 303, 321, 334,
353, 35b, 363, 364, 407; maggots
infesting, 486

Apple Bucculatrix, 253

Apple-maggot, 486

Apple-tree Aphis, 159

Apple-tree Tent-caterpillar, 360

Apple-twig Borer, 553

Apple-weevil, 594

Apricot, 577, 594

Arachnida, 12

Aradidae, 139

Aramigus fulleri, 592

Araneida, 20

Arbor vitae, 220

Arctia = Eyprepia

Arctiidae, 317

Arctiids, 317

Argus-tortoise, 581

Argynnids, 399

Argynnis cybele, 400

Arista, 419

Armored-scales, 171

Army- worm, 303

Arthromacra aenea, 584

Arthropoda, 9

Arthropods, 9

Arzama = Bellura

Ascalaphus, 183

Aschiza, 418

Asclepias, 397

Ash, 321, 334, 335, 364

Asilidae, 460

Asimina, 380

Asparagus- bee tie, 575

Aspidiotus aurantii, 173, 174

Aspidisca splendoriferella, 254

Assassin-bugs, 137

Astrangulus, 394

Atcuchus sacer, 557

Atlides halesus, 393

Atropos divinatoria, 99

Attacus = Callosamia and Samia

Attelabidae, 591

Attelabus, 591

Attidae, 42

Aulacus, 627

Australian Lady-bug, 166
Automeris io, 351
Auzatidae, 288
Auzatids, 288
Axillary excision, 420

Back-swimmers, 130
Bad-wing, 286
Bag-worm Moths, 219
Balaninus, 593; B. caryatrypes, 593
B. nasicus, 593; B. quercus, 593
B. rectus, 593

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

68 1

Balsa malana, 303
Baltimore, 399
Banded Elfin, 393
Banded Footman, 326
Banded Hair-streak, 392
Banded Purple, 406
Baptria = Euchaeca
Bark-lice, 164
Barn -swallow, 140
Basilarchia archippus, 407; B. arthe-
mis, 406; B. astyanax, 406; B.
astyanax-arthemis, 407
Basilona imperialis, 346
Basswood, 267, 353, 580
Bass-wood Leaf-roller, 231
Bat-ticks, 489
Beans, 300, 371, 582
Bean -weevil, 582
Beautiful Maple-borer, 570
Beautiful Wood-nymph, 315
Beaver-parasite, 529
Bed-bug, 140
Bee, 589, 590, 664
Beech, 549

Beech-tree Blight, 161
Bee-flies, 463
Bee-louse, 489
Bee-moth Family, 233
Beet, 484
Beetles, 494
Beggar, 285
Bella-motli, 319
Bellura gortynides, 304
Belostoma americanum, 132
Belostomidre, 131
Bembecidje, 652
Bembecids, 652
Bembecinai, 653
Benacus griseus, 132
Berytidae, 143
Bibio, 450
Bibionidce, 449
Big Bed-bug, 137
Big-eyed Flies, 473
Bill-bugs, 595

Birch, 278, 284, 364, 406, 275
Bird-lice, 100
Birds, 488

Biston cognataria, 280
Bittacus, 185
Blackberry, 550, 620
Black-bordered Yellow, 386
Black-c Owlet, 306
Black Damsel-bug, 138
Black Dash, 373
Black-flies, 451

Black Scale, 170

Black Swallow-tail, 377

Black Witch, 297

Blattidae, 106

Bleaching wings, 197

Blepharocera, 433 ; B. capitata, 434

Blepharoceridae, 432

Blissus leucopterus, 142

Blister-beetles, 586

Blonde Damsel-bug, 138

Blood, 75

Blood-vessels, 71

Blotch mines, 249

Blow-fly, 483

Blue-eyed Grayling, 41 1

Blues, 391

Boletotherus bifurcus, 583
Boll-worm, 300
Bombardier-beetles, 520
Bombus, 672
Bombycidae, 340
Bombyliidae, 463
Bombylius, 463
Bombyx mori, 340
Book-lice, 98
Book-worm, 553
Borcus, 185

Boring Hymenoptera, 601, 610
Bot-flies, 477
Brachinus, 520
Brachycera, 417
Brachytarsus, 598
Braconida:, 625
Braconids, 625
Brain, 67
Branches, 4
Braula caica, 489
Braulidae, 489
Breast bone, 445
Brent hid®, 594
Brenthis, 400
Brenthus, 595
Brephos infans, 274
Bristle-tails, 82, 83
Broad-necked Prionus, 568
Broad - shouldered Water - striders,
134

Bronze Copper, 390
Bruchid®, 581

Bruchus obtectus, 582 ; B. pisl, 581
Brychius, 522

Bucculatrix pomifoliella, 253
Budding, 159
Bud-moth, 241
Bugs, 1 21
Bullet-gall, 619

682

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

Bumblebee Hawk-moth, 338
Bumble-bees, 648, 672
Bumble Flower-beetle, 565
Buprestidje, 548
Buprestids, 548
Burrower-bugs, 145
Buttercup Oil-beetle, 588
Butterflies, 196, 207, 373
Butternut, 320, 346, 363
Byrrhidae, 542
Byrsopidae, 591
Byturus unicolor, 541

Cabbage, 301, 305, 371, 383,384, 578
Cabbage Aphis, 159
Cabbage-butterfly, 382
Cabbage-root Maggot, 4S4
Cabbage-worms, 381
Caccecia, 244 ; C. cerasivorana, 245 ;

C. fcrvadana, 245; C. rosana, 244
Caddice-flies, 186, 187
Caddice-worms, 186, 187
Csenis, 87
Calamistrum, 23
Calandra oryzae, 596
Calandridai. 595

Calephelis borealis, 394 ; C. caenius,
394

Calico-back, 145
Callidryas eubule, 387
Callimorpha = Haploa
Calliphora vomitoria, 483
Callosamia augulifera, 355 ; C. pro-
methea. 354

Calocalpe undulata, 284
Calopieron reticulatum, 551
Calosoma calidum, 519 ; C. scruta¬
tor, 519

Calyptrate Muscidae, 480

Camponotus pennsylvanicus, 635,640

Campsomyia maceltaria, 483

Cane, 563

Canker-worms, 275

Canthon laevis, 558

Capitate, 60

Capsidae, 140

Carabidae, 518

Carbon bisulphide, 161

Cardo, 500

Carolina Locust, ill

Carpenter-ant, 640

Carpenter-bee, 669

Carpenter- moths, 221

Carpet Beetle, 539

Carpocapsa pomonella, 241

Carrion- beetles, 529

Carteria lacca, 166
Case-bearers, 257
Case-bearing Clothes-moth, 257
Cassia, 386, 387, 581
Caterpillars, 193
Caterva = Cingilia
Catocala, 298 ; C. ilia, 298
Cattle-tick, 43
Caudal setae, 66
Cave-crickets, 114

Cecidomyia albovittata, 446 ; C. de¬
structor, 446; C. leguminicola, 446 ;
C. strobiloides, 445 ; C. trifolii,
446

Cecidomyiidae, 444
Cecropia Moth, 356
Cell, 421

Cells of the wing, 605

Celtis, 156, 403; C. occidentalis, 397

Centipedes, 45, 46

Cephaloidae, 585

Cephalo thorax, 12

Cerambycidae, 567

Cerambycids, 567

Cerambycinae, 569

Ceratina dupla, 669

Ceratocampidaj = Citheroniidae

Ceratopogon, 441

Ceratopsyllus serraticeps, 492

Cerceris, 654

Cerci, 66

Cercopidae, 152

Cercyonis alope, 41 1 ; C. alope-
nephele, 412 ; C. nephele, 41 1
Ceresa bubalus, 155
Cermatia forceps, 46
Ceropales, 650
Ceuthophilus, 114
Chain-dotted Geometer, 279
Chalcididae, 628
Chalcis-flies, 628
Chalcophora virginica, 549
Chamyriscerintha, 300
Chauliodes, 178 ; C. pecticornis, 178 ;
C. serricornis, 178

Chauliognathus, 551; C. marginatus,
551 ; C. pennsylvanicus, 551
Checkered Beetles, 552
Checkered White, 384
Cheese, 45
Cheese-maggot, 486
Chelicerac, 13
Chelone glabra, 399
Chelymorpha argus, 581
Cherry, 245, 284, 355, 364, 549, 565,
595

INDEX AND GLOSSARY .

683

Cherry-tree Aphis, 159

Cherry-tree Ugly-nest Tortricid, 245

Chestnut, 278, 593

Chickweed Geometer, 287

Chigoe, 493

Chilognatha, 47

Chilopoda, 46

China wax, 166

Chinch-bug, 142

Chinch-bug Family, 142

Chionaspis furfurus, 165, 174; C.

pinifoli$, 172, 174
Chionobas = Asneis
Chironomidae, 440
Chironomus, 441
Chitine, 52
Choke-cherry, 245
Chrysalis, 54
Chrysididje, 632
Chrysobothris fcmorata, 549
Chrysochraon conspersum, in
Chrysomelida;, 574
Chrysomelids, 574
Chrysopa, 181

Chrysophanus, 390; see also Heodes
Chrysophanus thoe, 390
Chrysopidae, 180
Chrysopila thoracica, 456
Chrysops, 455

Cicada, 149 ; C. septendecim, 150 ;

C. tibicen, 151
Cicada-killer, 653
Cicadidae, 149
Cicadula exitiosa, 153
Cicindela, 518
Cicindelidae, 516
Cicinnus melsheimerii, 358
Cigarette Beetle, 553
Ciidie, 554

Cimbex americana, 612
Cimicifuga, 392
Cingilia catenaria, 279
Cinura, 83

Circular-seamed Flies, 418, 470
Cistelidae, 584
Cisthene unifascia, 326
Citheronia regalis, 346
Citheroniidae, 343
Classes, 4

Classification of the Coleoptera, 499;
of the Heteroptera, 125; of the
Homoptera, 148; of the Hymenop-
tera, 602
Claspers, 66
Clavate, 60
Clavicornia, 497

Clavus, 125

Clear-winged Moths, 259
Clemensia albata, 325
Cleora semiclusaria, 280
Cleptes, 632
Cleridae, 552
Click- beetles, 544

Clisiocampa, 360 ; C. americana,
360 ; C. calif ornica, 362 ; C. con-
stricta, 362 ; C. disstria, 362
Cloaked Knotty-horn, 570
Closed, 504
Close-wings, 234
Clothed-in-white Footman, 325
Clothes-moths, 257
Clouded Locust, no
Clouded Sulphur, 385
Cloudless Sulphur, 387
Clover, 371, 385, 386, 392, 537, 598
Clover-hay Worm, 233
Clover Hypena, 295
Clover-leaf Midge, 446
Clover Looping-ovviets, 299
Clover-root Borer, 598
Clover-seed Midge, 446
Clubionidoe, 30
Clubionids, 30
Clypeal suture, 500
Clypeus, 500
Cnemidotus, 522
Cobweb Weavers, 34
Coccidie, 164
Coccid-eating Pyralid, 236
Coccinella novemnotata, 535
Coccinellida;, 534
Coccus cacti, 166
Cochineal, 166

Cockroaches, 104, 106, 589, 590
Cockscomb Elm-gall, 161
Cocoon, 54
Codlin-moth, 241
Coelodasys, 269
Coffee-tree, 347
Coleoptera, 494
Coleoptera genuina, 515
Colias = Eurymus and Zerene
Collembola, 84
Collops quadrimaculatus, 552
Colopha ulmicola, 161
Coloradia, 350
Colorado Potato-beetle, 576
Colydndai, 537
Colymbetes, 525
Common Skippers, 368
Common Stag-beetle, 555
Complete metamorphosis, 51

684

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

Composite, 402
Compound eyes, 58
Compton Tortoise, 403
Conchylidae, 243
Conchylids, 243
Conchylis rutilana, 243
Coniferous trees, flowers of, 591
Conifers, 280
Conopidae, 476
Conops affinis, 476
Conorhinus sanguisugus, 137
Conotrachelus nenuphar, 593
Coppers, 390
Copris Carolina, 558
Coptocycla, 581
Cordylurinae, 485
Coreidae, 143

Corisa, 129; C. undulata, 129
Coriscus, 138; C. ferns, 138; C. sub-
coleoptratus, 138
Corisidac, 129
Corimelaena, 146
Corimelaenidae, 146
Corium, 125
Corn, 300, 563, 577, 641
Cornicles, 67
Corn-louse Ant, 641
Corn Plant-louse, 158
Corn Root-worm, 577
Corn Silvanus, 538
Corn-stalks, 565
Cornus, 392
Corrodentia, 98
Corydalis cornuta, 176
Corylophidae, 534
Cosmopolitan Butterfly, 402
Cosmosoma, 327; C. auge, 328
Cossidte, 221
Costa, 64
Costal margin, 64
Cotalpa lanigera, 562
Cotton, 300
Cotton-stainer, 141
Cotton- worm, 301
Cottony-cushion Scale, 166
Cow-killer Ant, 648
Cow-manure, 483, 485
Coxa, 13, 62
Coxal cavities, 504
Crabronidae, 656
Crabronids, 656
Crabro singularis, 656
Crabs, 11
Crab Spiders, 40
Crambidae, 234
Crambidia pallida, 324

Crambus, 235
Crane-flies, 429
Cray-fishcs, 11
Creeping Water-bugs, 133
Cremastogaster lineolata, 643
Creophilus villosus, 532
Crepidodera cucumcris, 578
Crescent-spots, 398
Cribellum, 23

Cricket-like Grasshoppers, 114
Crickets, 104, 115
Crioceris asparagi, 575
Crop, 71
Croton, 410
Croton-bug, 106
Cruciferae, 371
Cruciferous plants, 383
Crustacea, 11
Crustaceans, II

Cryptohvpnus abbrcviatus, 546
Cryptophagidac, 538
Cryptus extrematis, 624
Ctenucha virginica, 327
Cubitus, 64
Cuckoo-flies, 632
Cucujidae, 537
Cucujids, 537
Cucujus clavipes, 538
Cucullia, 302; C. speyeri, 302
Cucumber, 577, 578
Cucumber-beetles, 577
Cucumber Flea-beetle, 578
Culex, 437
Culicidae, 437
Cuneus, 125
Cupesidae, 553
Curculionidac, 593
Curculios, 593
Curled dock, 390

Curled-thread Weavers with Irregular
Webs, 32

Curled-thread Weavers with Regular
Webs, 38

Currant, 244, 280, 613

Currant-borer, 261

Currant Span-worm, 279

Currant-worm, 613

Cut-worms, 305

Cyaniris pseudargiolus, 391

Cybister, 525

Cychrus, 520

Cyclorrhapha, 418, 470

Cycnia egle, 319

Cydnidae, 145

Cylas formicarius, 595

Cyllene pictus, 571; C. robiniae, 5*7A

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

68s

Cymatophoridae, 291
Cymatophorids, 291
Cynipidae, 615

Dactylopius, 166
Daddy Long Legs, 19
Daggers. 307
Dainty Sulphur, 387
Damsel-bugs, 138
Danais = Anosia
Dance-flies, 466
Darkling Beetles, 582
Darning-needles, 90
Darwinian theory of natural selec¬
tion, 200
Dascyllidae, 544
Datana, 264; D. ministra, 265
Dead animal matter, 559, 583
Decaying fruit, 487
Decaying vegetable matter, 484, 538,

565

Deilephila lineata, 337
Deltoids, 295

Dendroctonus tenebrans, 598
Dermestes lardarius, 539
Dcrmestidae, 538
Dermestids, 538
Derodontidae, 542
Desmia funeral is, 230 .

Dcsmocerus palliatus, 570
Destructive Leaf-hopper, 153
Development without metamorpho¬
sis, 50

DeviPs-needles, 90
Dexiinae, 482

Diabrotica, 577 *. D* duodecimpunc-
tata, 577; D- longicornis, 577; D.
soror, 577; D. vittata, 577
Diapheromera femorata, 108
Diaspiiue, 171
Diastictis ribearia, 279
Diastrophus nebulosus, 620
Dicselus, 521
Dicerca divaricata, 549
Dictynida;, 32
Dictynids, 32
Diervilla, 339
Digger-wasps, 644
Digitus, 500

Dilophogaster californica, 628
Dineutes, 527
Diopsince, 486
Dioptidae, 262

Dioptids, 262 , . .

Diplosis resinicola, 447 ; D. tritici,

447

Diptera, 413
Discal cell, 198
Discal vein, 199
Dissosteira Carolina, III
Diver, 304

Diverse-line Moth, 285
Divining Atropos, 99
Dixa, 436
Dixa- midges, 436
Dixidae, 436
Dobson, 175, 176, 177
Dog-day Harvest-fly, 151
Dog-flea, 492
Dog's-head, 386
Dolichopodkke, 467
Dolichopus, 467; D. lobatus, 467
Dolomedes, 42
Donacia, 575
Dorcus parallelus, 555
Doryphora clivicollis, 576; D. decern-
lineata, 576
Dragon-flies, 89, 90
Drassidse, 29
Drassids, 29
Drassus saccatus, 29
Drasteria, 299; D. crassiuscula, 299;

D. erechtea, 299
Drasterius elegans, 546
Drepanidze, 289
Drepanulidse = Drepanidae
Dried fruits, 236
Drosophila ampelophila, 487
Dryocampa rubicunda, 349
Dry vegetable matter, 583
Dull-eyed Grayling, 41 1
Dung, 583
Dung-flies, 485
Dye-stuffs, 166

Dynastes grantii, 563 ; D. hercules;

563; D. tityrus, 563
Dysdercus suturellus, 141
Dysptcris, 283 ; D. abortivaria, 286
Dytiscidae, 523
Dytiscus, 525

Eacles = Basilona
Ears, 483

Earth-boring Dung-beetles, 559
Earwigs, 102, 103
Edema albifrons, 266
Egg, 53

Egg-mass of a Mantis, 107
Egg-sac, 24

Eight-spotted Forester, 314
Elaphidion villosum, 571
Elateridae, 544

686

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

Elaters, 544
Elder, 570

Electric-light Bugs, 132

Eleodes, 583

Elis quadrinotata, 649

Ellema harrisii, 334

Elliptical Goldenrod Gall, 486

Elm, 218, 267, 308, 334, 353, 403

Elytra, 494

Embolium, 125

Emesa longipes, 136

Emesidai, 136

Emperors, 410

Empidkkc, 466

Empoa rosac, 154

Empodium, 420

Empretia stimulea, 225

Enchenopa binotata, 155

Encoptolophus sordidus, no

Endomychidae, 535

Engraver-beetles, 596

Ennomidac, 277

Ennomids, 277

Ennomos magnarius, 278

Ensign-flies, 626

Epargyreus tityrus, 370

Epeiridae, 35

Ephemerida, 86

Ephemeridoe, 87

Ephestia kilhnielia, 236

Ephydra, 487

Ephydrinae, 487

Epicaerus imbricatus, 592

Epicauta, 588 ; E. cinerea, 589 ; E.

pennsylvanica, 588 ; E. vittata,

5S9

Epilachna borealis, 535
Epimeron, 502
Epipharynx, 6i
Episternum, 502
Erannis tiliaria, 280
Erax, 461
Erax apicalis, 460
Erebus odora, 297
Ericerus pe-la, 166
Eriocampa cerasi, 613
Eristalis, 471
Erotylidae, 536
Erotylids, 536
Erythroneura vitis, 154
Estigmene acraea, 321
Eubyia = Biston
Euchaetes = Cycnia
Euchoeca albovittata, 283
Euclea delphinii, 224
Eucleidae, 223

Eudamus, 370 ; see also Epargyreus
and Thorybes
Eudamus proteus, 370
Eudeilinea herminiata, 288
Eudryas = Euthisanotia
Eudule mendica, 285
Eufitchia = Diastictis
Eugonia j-album, 403
Eulimacodes scapha, 224
Eulonchus, 459
Eumenes fraternus, 658
Eumenia atala, 394
Eumenidae, 658
Euphanessa = Eudule
Euphoria, 565; E. inda, 565; E.

melancholia, 566
Euphydryas phaeton, 399
Euplexoptera, 102
Euplceids, 397
Euploeinje, 397
Eupsalis minuta, 595
Eupsyche m-album, 394
Euptoieta claudia, 400
Eurema lisa, 386
Eurygaster alternates, 146
Eurymus eurytheme, 386; E. philo-
dice, 385

Eurypelma hentzii, 28

Eustroma diversilineata, 285

Euthisanotia grata, 315; E. unio, 316

Euvanessa antiopa, 403

Evania appendigaster, 628

Evaniidsc, 626

Everes comyntas, 392

Evergreen Bag-worm, 220

Evergreen Cleora, 2S0

Everlasting, 402

Evolution and Taxonomy, 203

Exetastes fascipennis, 622

External anatomy of insects, 56

Exuviae, 53

Eyed Brown, 41 1

Eyed Elater, 547

Eyprepia, 323; E. virgo, 324

Falcate Orange-tip, 385
Fall Canker-worm, 276
Fall Web-worm, 321
False Crane-flies, 448
Families, 4
Fat, 71

Feather-wing Beetles, 533
Femur, 13, 62
Feniseca tarquinius, 390
Fibrous Oak-apple, 618
Fiery Hunter, 519

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

687

Fig-eater, 566
Filiform, 60
Fir, 572

Firefly Family, 550
Firstborn Geometer, 274
Fish, 132

Fish-moths, 82, 83
Five-dotted Tortoise, 581
Flabellate, 500
Flannel-moths, 218
Flat-bugs, 139

Flat-headed Apple-tree Borer, S4Q

Flat-headed Larvae, 548

Flea-beetles, 578

Fleas, 490

Flesh-flies, 482

Flies, 413

Flouring-mills, 236

Flower-beetles, 564

Flower-bugs, 140

Flying Spiders, 25

Foenus, 628

Footman-moths, 324

Forest trees, 281,299,308, 318, 320,

tt 3«6, 355» 356» 598

Forficulida;, 103

Forked Fungus-beetle, 583
Formica difficilis, 639, 640, 641 ; F.
exsect o ides, 640; F. rufa, 640; F.
subsericea, 641
Formicidae, 640
Formicina, 633
Fossores, 644

Four-footed Butterflies, 305
Four-lined Leaf-bug, i4I
Frenatas, 201, 216
Frenate Lepidoptera, 204, 216
Frenulum, 198

Frenulum-conservers, 205, 290
Frenulum-losers, 206, 290
Fritillaries, 399
Frog-hoppers, 152
Fruit, 577

Fruit-trees, 275, 281, 355, 362, 598
Frustrating Retinia, 243
Fulgoridae, 151
Fuller's Rose-beetle, 592
Fungi, 161, 538, 583, 585
Fungus-gnats, 442
Funnel-web Weavers, 30
Furs, 538

Galea, 62, 500
Galerita janus, 521
Galgulidae, 133
Galgulus oculatus, 133

Galleria mellonella, 233
Galleriidae, 233
Gall-flies, 615
Gall -gnats, 444

Gall-inhabiting Hymenoptera, 601
Galls, 44, 616
Ganglia, 69

Garden vegetables, 305, 592
Gartered Plume, 238
Gastropacha = Phyllodesma
Gastrophilus equi, 477
Gclechia ccrealella, 258; G. gallse-
solidaginis, 486; G. pinifoliella,
252

Genealogical tree, 2
Generalized, 200
Generalized Frenatse, 203, 204
Geniculate, 500
Genus, 3
Geometridas, 287
Geometrids, 270
Geometrina, 270
Georyssidae, 543
Geotrupes, 559
Giant Oak-gall, 620
Giant Silk-worms, 350
Giant Skippers, 365
Giant Stag-beetle, 555
Giant Water-bugs, 131
Giant Whip-scorpion, 18
Gipsy Moth, 312
Gizzard, 71
Glaucus Form, 379
Glossa, 501
Gnaphalium, 402
Gnathium, 588

Gnophiela, 316; G. hopffen, 317; G.

vermiculata, 316
Goat-weed, 410
Goat-weed Butterfly, 410
Golden-eyes, 181

Golden-rod, 138, 302, 551, 57L 587.
588

Goldsmith-beetle, 562
Goniodes stylifer, 101
Gooseberry, 407. 61 3
Gooseberry Span-worm, 279
Gossamer-winged Butterflies, 388
Grain, 142, 258, 304, 596
Grandfather Graybeards, 19
Grape, 152, 154, 226, 228, 238, 28b,
30 3. 3i3» 3*5. 562, 565, 569, 578,
592

Grape Leaf-folder, 230
Grape Phylloxera, 160
Grape-vine Epimenis, 315

688

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

Grape-vine Leaf-hopper, 153

Grapholithidae, 240

Grapholithids, 240

Grapta = Eugonia and Polygonia

Grass, 234, 375

Grasshoppers, 104

Gray Comma, 405

Gray-veined White, 383

Great Purple Hair-streak, 393

Great Spangled Fritillary, 400

Green Comma, 404

Green Corn, 565

Green Gcometrids, 287

Green-striped Maple-worm, 349

Ground-beetles, 518

Grubs, 494

Gryllidae, 115

Gryllotalpa borealis, 117

Gryllus abbreviatus, 118

Guest-bees, 670

Guest-gall-flies, 621

Guest-gall-gnat, 446

Guest-wasps, 657

Gula, 500

Gular sutures, 500

Gyrctus, 527; G. sinuatus, 527

Gyrinidae, 525

Hackberry, 156
Hadenoecus, 114
Haematobia serrata, 483
Haematopinus asini, 147; H. eury-
sternus, 147

Haematopis grataria, 287
Hair-snakes, 53
Hair-streaks, 392
Hal ictus, 666
Haliplidae, 522
Haliplids, 522
Haliplus, 522
Halisidota caryae, 320
Haltcrcs, 413
Haltica chalybea, 578
Handmaid Moths, 264
Haploa, 319; H. contigua, 319
Harlequin Cabbage-bug, 145
Harlequin Milkweed Caterpillar,
319

Harmonia pini, 261
Harpalus caliginosus, 521
Harrisina, 227; H. americana, 227;

H. coracina, 228; H. texana, 228
Harris's Sphinx, 334
Harvestmen, 12, 19
Harvest-mites, 493
Hawk-moths, 329

Hawthorn, 338
Hawthorn Tingis, 139
Head, 499

Head and its appendages, 58
Heart, 67
Heliconians, 397
Heliconiinae, 397
Heliothis armigera, 300
Hemaris diflinis, 338; H. thysbe,
338

Hemileuca maia, 342
Hemileucidae, 342
Hemileucids, 342
Hemerobians, 18 1
Hemerobiidae, 181
Hemiptcra, 121
Hens, 100

Heodes hypophlaias, 390
Hepialidae, 215
Hepialus, 215
Herbaceous plants, 318
Herbivorous Lady-bug, 535
Hesperia montivaga, 372
Hesperiidae, 368
Hesperiina, 364
Hesperiinae, 369
Hessian-fly, 446
Heteroceridae, 543
Heterocerus, 543
Heteromera, 498
Heterophleps, 283
Heteroptera, 122, 123
Hexapoda, 48

Hickory, 265, 299, 320, 346, 353, 393,
592

Hickory-nuts, 593
Hickory Tiger-moth, 320
Hippobosca, 488
Hippobosca equina, 488
Hippoboscidae, 487
Histeridae, 541
Hoary Alder, 216
Hog-caterpillar of the Vine, 336
Holcaspis centricola, 619; H. globu
lus, 619; H. inanis, 619
Homoptera, 122, 148
Homoptera lunata, 296
Honey-ant, 642
Honey-bee, 673
Honey-comb, 234
Honey-dew, 157, 162, 392
Honey-locust, 347
Honeysuckle, 339
Honey-tubes, 67
Hooded Owlets, 302
Hook-tip Moths, 289

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

689

Hop, 401

Hop-merchant, 405
Hop-vine Hypena, 296
Horned Corydalis, 176
Horned Passalus, 556
Horn-fly, 483
Horn-tails, 614
Horse, 488
Horse Bot-fly, 477
Horse-flies, 453
House-fly, 482
Hybernia = Erannis
Hybrid Graylings, 412
Hybrid Purple, 407
Hydriomenidas, 282
Hydriomenids, 282
Hydrobatidae, 135

Hydrocharis, 528; H. obtusatus, 529
Hydrophilidae, 527
Hydrophilus, 528; H. triangularis,
528

Hydropsyche, 189
Hydro psych inse, 189
Hydroscaphidae, 533
Hygrotrechus conformis, 135
Hylcsinus trifolii, 598
Hymenoptcra, 599
Hypatus bachmannii, 397
Hypena humuli, 296; H . scabra, 295
Hyperchiria = Automeris
Hypermetamorphosis, 587
Hyphantria cunea, 321
Hypoderma bovis, 478; H. lineata,
478

Hypopharynx, 61

Hypoprepiafucosa, 325; H. miniata,
325

Hyptiotes cavatus, 38
Human-flea, 492
Humeral angle, 64, 217
Humeral veins, 360
Humpbacked Flies, 475

Icerya purchasi, 166
Ichneumon-flies, 621
Ichneumonidae, 621
Ichthyura, 268; I. inclusa, 268
-idee, 8

Ilia Underwing, 298
Imbricated Snout-beetle, 592
Imperial-moth, 346
-inae, 8

Incisalia niphon, 393
Incomplete metamorphosis, 50
Incurvaria acerifoliella, 255
Indian-meal Moth, 236

45

Inner margin, 64
Innoxious Black-fly, 453
Inocellia, 179
Inquilines, 621, 670
Insects, 48, 49

Internal anatomy of insects, 67
Io-moth, 351

Iphiclides ajax, 379; I. ajax ajax,
380; I. ajax marcellus, 379; I.
ajax telamon ides, 379
Ips fasciatus, 542
Isabella Tiger-moth, 322
Isom era, 496
Isoptera, 95
Isosoma hordei, 629
Itch-mite, 43

Jalysus spinosus, 143
Japyx, 84

Jason iades glaucus, 378; J. glaucua
glaucus, 379; J. glaucus turnus,
378

assidae, 153
igger, 493
oint-worm, 629
ugatae, 201, 214
Jugate Lepidoptera, 204
Jugum, 198

Jumping Plant-lice, 155
Jumping Spiders, 42
une-bugs, 560, 566
uniper Web-worm, 243

Katydids, 113
Kermes, 168
Kings, 96
Koochabee, 487

Labial palpi, 62, 501
Labium, 61, 501
Labrum, 61
Lac, 166
Lac dye, 166
Lace-bugs, 139
Lace-winged Flies, 180
Lachnosterna, 560
Lachnus, 160
Lacinia, 500
Lacosoma chiridota, 359
Lacosomidae, 357
Lady-bugs, 534
Laertias philenor, 375
Laetilia coccidivora, 236
Lagoa = Megalopyge
Lagriidae, 584
Lamellate, 60

690

INDEX AND GLOSSARY .

Lamellicornia, 498
Lamellicorn Beetles, 556
Lamellicorn Leaf-chafers, 559
Lamellicorn Scavengers, 556
Lamiids, 572
Lamiinse, 572
Lampyrid®, 550
Lampyrids, 550
Land-bugs, 124
Langton’s Forester, 314
Languria, 536; L. mozardi, 537
Lantern-fly Family, 15 1
Lappet-caterpillars, 359, 360
Larch Lappet, 363
Larder Beetle, 539
Large Carpenter-bee, 670
Large intestine, 71
Large Metal-mark, 394
Larger Empty Oak-apple, 619
Larra terminata, 652
Larrid®, 652
Larrids, 652
Larva, 53
Lasiocampid®, 359
Lasiocampids, 359
Lasioderma serricorne, 553
Lasius alienus, 158 ; L. brunneus,
641

Lathridiid®, 542
Lavcrna sabalella, 251
Leaf-beetles, 574
Leaf-bugs, 140
Leaf-cutter Bees, 667
Leaf-hoppers, 153
Leaf-rollers, 239
Leaf-rolling Weevils, 591
Lebia grandis, 520
Lecanium, 169; L. hcmisphaericum,
1 71; L. hesperidum, 170; L. ole®,
169, 170
Legs, 62

Leguminos®, 371, 385, 392
Leistotrophus cingulatus, 533
Lema trilineata, 575
Lemoniids, 394
Lemoniinae, 394
Leopard-moth, 223
Lepidoptera, 191
Lepisma saccharina, 83
Leptid®, 456
Leptinidae, 529
Leptinus testaceus, 529
Leptis, 458

Leptysma marginicolle, ill
Lettuce, 341

Lettuce Earth-louse, 159

Leucania unipuncta, 303
Lcucarctia = Estigmene
Leucospis, 629; L. affinis, 630
Libelluiid®, 90
Libythea = Hypatus
Libythein®, 396
Lice, 121, 147
Lichens, 328

Light-loving Anomala, 562
Ligula, 501
Ligyrus rugiceps, 563
Limacodes = Eulimacodes
Limacodid® = Eucleid®

Limenitis = Basilarchia
Lime-tree Winter-moth, 280
Limnobates lineata, 136
Limnobatid®, 136
Limochores pontiac, 373
Limothrips poaphagus, 119
Linear mines, 249
Liparid® = Lymantriid®

Lipoptera, 48S

Lithocolletis hatnadryadella, 250

Lithosia bicolor, 325

Lithosiid®, 324

Lithosiids, 324

Little Sulphur, 386

Little-winged Jugates, 216

Live-oaks, 263

Lobsters, 11

Locust-borer, 570

Locust, insects infesting, 370, 571

Locustid®, 112

Locusts, 108

Locust-tree Carpenter-moth, 222
Lonchoptera, 469
Lonchopterid®, 469
Long-beaks, 396
Long-horned Beetles, 567
Long-horned Bugs, 124
Long-horned Grasshoppers, 112
Long-horned Leaf-beetles, 575
Long-horned Orthorrhapha, 416
Long-legged Emesa, 136
Long-legged Flies, 467
Long-tailed Skipper, 370
Long-tongued Bees, 666
Lophodcrus politana, 245
Louse-flies, 487
Lucan id®, 554

Lucanus dama, 555; L. elephus, 555

Luna Moth, 353

Lunate Similar-wing, 296

Lung-sacs, 13, 22

Lycsena = Cyan iris and Everes

Lycsenidae, 388

INDEX AND GLOSSARY. 69l

Lycreninse, 389
Lycomorpha pholus, 327
Lycosa, 4(

Lycosidae, 40
Lygaeidre, 142
Lymantriidae, 308
Lymexylidse, 553
Lymexylon navale, 553
Lyreman, 151

Machilis, 84

Macrodactylus subspinosus, 561
Maia-moth, 342
Malachiidae, 552
Mallophaga, 100
Mamestra picta, 305
Mandibles, 13, 61
Mantidse, 106

Mantis-like Neuroptera, 179
Mantispa, 179
Mantispidae, 179
Many-dotted Apple-worm, 303
Many-plume Moths, 238
Maple, 223, 278, 298, 308, 349, 353>
364. 549

Maple-leaf Cutter, 255
March-flies, 449
Margaronia hyalinata, 231
Marginal cells, 607
Marsh-treaders, 136
Martial’s Dusky-vving, 371
Marumba modesta, 333
Masaridre, 657

Masked Bed-bug Hunter, 137
Mason-wasps. 658
Maxilire, I3> 61
Maxillary palpi, 62, 500
May-beetles, 560, 649
May-flies, 86, 87
Meadow-browns, 410
Meadow Grasshoppers, 113
Meal, 236
Meal-moth, 233
Meal-worm, 583
Mealy-bugs, 164, 166
Measuring-worms, 270
Mecoptera, 184
Media, 64

Mediterranean Flour-moth, 236
♦Megachile, 667; M. acuta, 667
Megalodachne, 536; M. fasciata,
536; M. heros, 536
Megalopyge crispata, 218
Megalopygidae, 218
Meganostoma = Zerene
Megathymidae, 365

Megathymus cofaqui, 367; M. neu
moegeni, 368; M. yuccae, 367
Melandryidae, 585

Melanoplus femur-rubrum, no; M,
spretus, no
Melitaea = Euphydryas
Melitaeids, 398
Melittia ceto, 262
Meloe, 58S; M. angusticollis, 588
Meloidae, 586
Melon, 577. 578
Melon -worm, 231
Melophagus ovinus, 488
Melsheimer’s Sack-bearer, 358
Membracidae, 154
Membrane, 125
Mentum, 501
Mesonotum, 501
Mesosternum, 501
Mesothorax, 62
Metallic Wood-borers, 548
Metamorphoses of insects, 50
Metanotum, 501
Metasternum, 501
Metatarsus, 13, 63
Metathorax, 62
Microcentrum retinervis, 113
Microdon, 472
Microfrenatae, 205
Microgaster, 626
Micropterygidae, 216
Microptcryx, 216, 219
Midaidas, 461
Midas, 462
Midas-flies, 461
Midge-like Flies, 417
Midges, 440
Milk-weed, 397
Milkweeds, 574, 577, 581, 652
Millipedes, 45, 47
Mimesidte, 655
Mimesids, 655
Misumena vatia, 40
Mites, 12, 42
Mitoura damon, 393
Mocha-stone Moths, 268
Modest Sphinx, 333
Mole Crickets, 117
Molting, 52
Monarch, 397, 408
Moniliform, 60
Monobia quadridens, 660
Monocteniida;, 273
Monocteniids, 273
Monohammus confusor, 572
Monommida;, 584

092

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

Monomorium pharonis, 643
Mononyx stygicus, 134
Monostegia rosae, 613
Monotomida:, 542
Mordcllidae, 586
Morning-glory, 580
Mosquitoes, 437
Mossy Rose-gall, 621
Moth-like Flies, 428
Moths, 195, 257
Mound-building Ant, 640
Mournful Thyris, 329
Mourning-cloak, 403
Mourning Horse-fly, 455
Mouth-parts, 60, 500
Mud-daubers, 651
Mulberry, 341
Mule-killers, 106
Murgantia histronica, 145
Musca domestica, 482
Muse idee, 479
Muscids, 479
Muscinae, 482
Muscles, 67
Muscular system, 69
Mustard, 578
Mutilla, 648
Mutillidas, 648
Mycetophagidae, 538
Mycetophilidae, 442
Myriapod a, 45

Myrmecocystus melliger, 642
Myrmeleon, 1S2
Myrmeleonidae, 182
Myrmicidae, 642
Myrmicids, 642

Mysus cerasi, 159; M. persicae, 159
Nabidae, 138

Naked Clothes-moth, 258
Nathalis iole, 387
Natural classification, I
Naucoridae, 133
Necrophorus, 530
Nectaries, 67
Nectarines, 594
Negro-bugs, 146
Neidcs muticus, 143
Nematocera, 416
Nematus ribesii, 613
Nemistrinidae, 459
Nemognatha, 588
Neonympha = Satyrodes
Nepa apiculata, 131
Nepidae, 130
Nervous system, 67, 72

Nettle, 401, 403, 580
Net-winged Midges, 432
Neuroptera, 175
Neuroterus, 617
Nimble-flies, 482
Nine-spotted Lady-bug, 535
Nisoniades = Thanaos
Nitidulidae, 541
Noctua c-nigrum, 306
Noctuidae, 293
Noctuids, 293

Noctuids and their allies, 205
Nolophana = Balsa
Northern Brenthid, 595
Northern Cloudy-wing, 371
Nostrils, 483

Notched-wing Geometer, 278
Notodontidae, 263

Notolophus, 308, 310; N. antiqua,
31 1 ; N. defmita, 31 1; N. leuco-
stigma, 310
Notonecta, 130
Notonectidae, 130
Notoxus, 586
Notum, 501
Nut- weevils, 593
Nycteribiidae, 489
Nymph, 54
Nymphalidae, 395
Nymphalinae, 398
Nysson, 654
Nyssonidae, 654
Nysson ids, 654

Oak, beetles infesting, 549, 571, 595;
caterpillars infesting, 218, 223, 224,
225, 245, 250, 265, 266, 267, 293,
299, 308, 345, 347* 353* 358, 362,
364* 393* 394; galls on, 618
Oak-pruner, 571
Oak Ugly-nest Tortricid, 245
Oberea bimaculata, 573
Obsolete, 57
Ocelli, 59, 199
Ochre Dagger, 307
Ocneria = Porthetria
Odonata, 89
Odontomyia, 456
Odontota rubra, 580
Odynerus, 659
CEcanthus niveus, 118
CEdemasia concinna, 267
CEdemeridae, 585

ICEneis semidea, 412
CEstridae, 477
CEstrus ovis, 478

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

693

Oiketicus abbotii, 220
Oil-beetles, 588
Old Tussock-moth, 31 1
Olfersia, 488; O. americana, 488
Olive Hair-streak, 393
Omus, 518

Onc-dotted Tortoise, 581
Onion-fly, 484
Oniscidae, 12

Ootheca of a Cockroach, 106
Open, 504
Ophion, 624

Opsicoetus personatus, 137
Orange, 592

Orange-striped Oak-worm, 348
Orange Sulphur, 386
Orange-tips, 384
Orb Weavers, 35
Orchards, 310
Orders, 4

Orders of the Hexapoda, 76, 81
Orgyia = Notolophus
Ormenis septentrionalis, 152
Orneodes hexadactyla, 238
Omeodida:, 238
Orphnephila testacea, 449
Orphnephilidie, 449
Ortalinre, 485
Orthezia, 168
Orthoptera, 104
Orthorrhapha, 416, 427
Orthosoma brunneum, 569
Osage Orange, 341
Osmateria, 376

Osmoderma eremicola, 565; O.

scabra, 565
Othniidae, 584
Othnius, 584
Otiorhynchidse, 592
Outer lobe, 62, 500
Outer margin, 64
Ovipositor, 66
Owlet-moths, 293
Owls, 488
Ox, 101
Oxwarble, 478

Oxyptilus periscelidactylus, 238
Oyster-shell Bark- louse, 171

Pacific Peach-tree Borer, 261
Painted Beauty, 401
Painted Footman, 325
Painted Hickory-borer, 571
Paleacrita vernata, 275
Pale Footman, 324
Palmetto-leaf Miner, 251

Palpifer, 500
Palpus, 13

Pamphila = Limochores
Pamphilinsc, 372
Pandorus Sphinx, 336
Panorpa, 185
Panorpidae, 184
Pantarbes capito, 464
Pantographa limata, 231
Papaw, 380

Papilio,377 ; see also Iphiclides, Ja*
soniades, and Lairtias
Papilionidie, 375
Papilionina, 373
Papilioninae, 376
Papilio polyxenes, 377
Papirius fuscus, 85
Paraglossai, 501
Parallelia bistriaris, 298
Parandra brunnea, 567
Parapsides, 603
Paraptera, 63, 495, 502
Parasita, 147
Parasitica, 122
Parasitic Hymenoptera, 601
Parnassiinze, 380
Parnassians, 375, 380
Parnassius, 380
Parnidae, 543
Parsnip, 377
Passalus cornutus, 556
Pastures, 303
Patagia, 199
Patella, 13

Peach, 260, 265, 549, 594
Peach-tree Aphis, 159
Peach-tree Borer, 260, 261
Pear, 223, 224, 407, 569
Pear-leaf Blister, 44
Pearl Wood-nymph, 316
Pear-tree Psylla, 156
Pear-tree Slug, 613
Peas, 300, 582
Pea-weevil, 581
Pea-weevil Family, 581
Pectinate, 60
Pediculidaj, 147
Pedipalpi, 13, 17
Pegomyia vicina, 484
Pe-la, 166
Pclccinidae, 631

Pelecinus, 631 ; P. polyturator, 631
Pelidnota punctata, 562
Pelocoris femorata, 133
Pelogonus americanus, 134
Pelopoeus, 651; P. cementarius, 651

694

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

Pemphredonidae, 655
Pemphredonids, 655
Pencetia viridans, 21
Pen-marked Sphinx, 334
Pennsylvania Blister-beetle, 588
Pentatomidae, 144

Penthe, 585; P. obliquata, 585; P.
pimelia, 585

Pepper-and-salt Currant-moth, 280
Pepsis formosa, 650
Pericopida:, 316
Pericopids, 316
Periodical Cicada, 150
Perlidre, 93
Pernicious Scale, 171
Perophora = Cicinnus
Petrophora = Eustroma
Perophoridae = Lacosomidae
Phalacridsc, 534
Phalangidea, 19
Phanzeus carnifcx, 558
Pharynx, 71
Phasmidae, 108
Phasmomantis Carolina, 107
Pheosia rimosa, 263
Philampelus pandorus, 336
Philanthidae, 654
Philanthids, 654
Philosamia cynthia, 357
Phlegethontius Carolina, 335; P. ce-
leus, 335

Pholisora Catullus, 372
Phora, 475

Phorbia brassicae, 484; P. ceparum,
484

Phoridae, 475
Phryganeidae, 187
Phrynidae, 19
Phrynus, 19
Phycitidae, 235
Phycitids, 235
Phyciodes, 399

Phyllodesma, 360; P. americana, 363

Phyllotreta vittata, 578

Phylloxera vastatrix, 160

Phylogeny of the lepidoptera, 199

Phymata wolffii, 138

Phymatidaj, 138

Phryganidia californica, 262

Physonota unipunctata, 581

Physopoda, 119

Phytophaga, 498

Phytoptus, 43

Phytoptus pyri, 44

Pieridae, 381

Pierids, 381

Pieris, 3S2 ; sec also Pontia
Pieris oleracea, 382; P. rapae, 383
Pigeon Horn-tail, 615
Pinacate-bugs, 583
Pine, 243, 252, 334, 549, 567, 569,
572

Pine-cone Willow-gall, 445
Pine-leaf Miner, 252
Pine-leaf Scale, 174
Pine-leaf Tube-builder, 245
Pine Sesian, 261
Pinipestis zimmcrmanni, 236
Piophila casei, 486
Piophilinae, 486
Pipunculidae, 473
Pipunculus, 473
Pitch-pine, 243, 252
Pitch-pine Retinia, 242
Pith, 5S6

Pithy Blackberry-gall, 620
Plaginotus speeiosus, 570
Plant-eating Hymcnoptera, 601
Plant-lice, 156, 391
Platypeza, 474
Platypezidas, 474
Platypsylla castoris, 529
Platypsyllidae, 529
Platypterygidae = Drepanidae
Platypteryx arcuata, 291 ; P. geni-
cula, 291 ; P. siculifera, 291
Plecoptera. 93
Plectoptera, 86
Plemyria hastata, 283
Pleurum, 501
Plodia interpunctella, 236
Plum, 334, 353, 356, 407, 593
Plum Curculio, 593
Plume-moths, 237

Plusia, 301 ; P. brassicae, 301 ; P.
simplex, 301

Poecilocapsus lineatus, 141
Polistes, 590, 662
Pollen, 565
Polybia, 662

Polyergus rufescens, 639
Polygonia, 404 ; P. comma, 405 ; P.
comma dryas, 405 ; P. comma
harrisii, 405 ; F. faunus, 404 ; P.
interrogationis, 405 ; P. interro-
gationis umbrosa, 406 ; P. interro¬
gationis fabricii, 406 ; P. progne,
405

Polyphemus-moth, 352
Polyporus, 583

Polystoechotes punctatus. t8j
Polythalamous, 620

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

695

Pomace-flics, 487

Pompilidae, 650

Pond-lily, 304

Poneridae, 642

Ponerids, 642

Pontia protodice, 384

Poplar, 223, 268, 275, 3 63> 403. 406,

5^9

Poplar Mocha-stone Moth, 268

Porthetria dispar, 312

Posterior lobe, 420

Posimedia, 64

Postscutellum, 502

Potato, 335, 575, 576, 578, 587, 588

Poultry, 100

Praescutum, 502

Praying Mantes. 106

Predaceous Diving-beetles, 523

Pre media, 64

Preserved meats, 45

Prioninae, 568

Prionids, 568

Prionoxystus robiniae, 222

Prionus^ 567 ; P. imbricornis, 569 ;

P. laticollis, 568
Proctotrupidas, 630
Proctotrupids, 630
Prolegs, 66
Promethea Moth, 354
Promincnts, 263
Pronotum, 501
Propodeum, 602
Prosternum, 501
Prothorax, 62

Protoparce = Phlegethontius
Protoplasa fitchii, 430
Prune, 577
Pselaphidae. 531
Psephenus lecontei, 543
Pseudaglossa lubricalis, 296
Pseudohazis, 343; P. eglanterina, 343;

P. hcra, 343
Pseudoscorpiones, 17
Pseudoscorpions, 17
Pseudothyatira cymatophoroides, 292
Pseudova, 159
Psilophus ciliatus, 468
Psithyrus, 671
Psocidae, 98
Psocids, 98
Psyche, 220
Psychidre, 219
Psychoda, 429
Psychodidae, 428
Psychomorpba epimenis, 315
Psylla pyricola, 156

Psyllidae, 155
Pteromalus puparum, 629
Pteronarcys regalis, 94
Pterophoridae, 237
Pterosticus lucublandus, 521
Ptilinum, 419
Ptinidae, 553
Pulex irritans, 492
Pulicidac, 492
Pulvilli, 63
Pulvilliform, 420

Pulvinaria, 168, 237 ; P. innumera-
bilis, 169
Pumpkin, 535
Punkies, 441
Pupa, 54

Pupa-bearing Flies, 419
Puparium, 415
Pupipara, 419, 488
Pyralididae, 232
Pyralidina, 228
Pyralids, 228
Pyralids, the Typical, 232
Pyralis costalis, 233 ; P. farinalis,
233

Pyrameis = Vanessa
Pyraustidae, 230
Pyraustids, 230
Pyrethrum, 100
Pyrgus = Hesperia
Pyrochroidae, 586
Pyromorpha dimidiata, 226
Pyromorphidae, 226
Pyrophila = Amphipyra
Pyrrharctia isabella, 322
Pyrrhocoridae, 141
Pythidae, 585

Queens, 96

Race prejudice, 3

Radish, 578

Radius, 64

Ranatra, 131

Raphidia, 179

Raphidians, 178

Raphidiidae, 178

Raspberry, 146, 218, 292, 578

Raspberry Fruit- worm, 541

Raspberry Geometer, 288

Red Admiral, 401

Red-ant, 643

Red-bug Family, 141

Red Cedar, 220, 393

Red-humped Apple-worm, 267

Red-legged Locust, no

6g6

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

Red Milkweed-beetles, 574
Red-necked Agrilus, 550
Red Scale of California, 174
Red Spider, 43
Red Spotted Purple, 406
Reduviidse, 137
Regal-moth, 346
Reproductive organs, 69, 76
Resin-gnat, 447
Respiratory system. 73
Resplendent Shield-bearer, 254
Retinia comstockiana, 242
Retinia frustrana, 243
Rhagium lineatum, 569
Rhamphomyia, 467
Rheuoiaptera = Plemyria
Rhinoceros-beetles, 562
Rhipiceridai, 544
Rhipiphoridse, 589
Rhizobius lactucse, 159
Rhodites rosse, 621
Rhogas parasiticus, 625
Rhynchites bicolor, 591
Rhynchitidse, 591
Rhynchocephalus sackeni, 460
Rhynchophora, 499, 590
Rhyphida:, 448
Rhyphus, 449
Rhyssodida;, 537
Ribbed Pine-borer, 569
Rice- weevil, 596
Robber-flies, 460
Rocky Mountain Locust, no
Rose-bugs, 561
Rose Leaf-hopper, 154
Roses, 154, 561, 59L 592, 613
Rose-slug, 613
Rosy Dryocampa, 349
Rosy-striped Oak-worm, 348
Rotten wood, 584, 586
Rough Flower-beetle, 565
Round Goldenrod Gall, 486
Round-headed Apple-tree Borer,
572

Rove-beetles, 532
Royal- moths, 343

Rumex acetosella, 390; R. crispus,
39°

Running Spiders, 40

Sack-bearing Frenulum-losers, 357
Sacred Beetle, 557
Saddle-back Caterpillar, 225
Sad Flower-beetle, 566
Saida, 134
Saldidae, 134

Salt-marsh Caterpillar, 321
Sarnia californica, 357; S. cecropla,
356; S gloveri, 357
Sarnia = Philosamia
Sand-crickets, 115

Sannina exitiosa, 260; S. pacifica,
261

Saperda Candida, 573
Sapygidae, 649
Sapygids. 649
Sarcophaginae, 482
Sarcopsylla penetrans, 493
Saturnians, 339
Saturniidas, 350
Saturniina, 339
Satyrinae, 410
Satyrodes eurydice, 411
Satyrs, 410
Satyrus — Cercyonis
Saw-flies, 61 1
Sawyer, 572
Scale-bugs, 164
Scales of Lepidoptera, 191
Scalloped Owlet, 302
Scallop-shell Moth, 284
Scaphidiidae, 533
Scarabieidai, 556
Scarabaiids, 556
Scarred Snout-beetles, 592
Scatophaga, 485
Scenopinidas, 465

Scenopinus, 465; S. fenestralis, 466
Scent-glands, 373
Scent-organ, 370, 380
Scepsis fulvicollis, 327
Schizoneura imbricator, 161; S.
lanigera, 162; S. tessellata, 161,
39i

Scfcizophora, 419
Sc-iara, 443

Sciara Army-worm, 443
Sciara mali, 443
Sclerite, 57

Scoleopteryx libatrix, 302
Scoliida;, 649
Scoliids, 649
Scolops. 152
Scolytidse, 596
Scorias spongiosum, 161
Scorpion-flies, 184
Scorpionida, 15
Scorpions, 12, 15
Screw-worm Fly, 483
Scurfy Bark-louse, 174
Scutelleridas, 146
Scutellum, 502

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

697

Scutum, 502
Scydmaenidae, 531
Searcher, 519
Seirodonta bilineata, 266
Semi-aquatic Hugs, 124
Sericaria — Bombyx
Serpentine mines, 249
Serphus dilatatus, 132
Serrate, 60
Serricornia, 497
Scsia tipuliformis, 261
Sesiidae, 259
Sesiids, 259
Setaceous, 60
Shade-trees, 223, 275, 310
Shed-builder Ant, 643
Sheep Bot-fly, 478
Sheep-tick, 43, 488
Shellac, 166

Shield-backed Bugs, 146
Shield-backed Grasshoppers, 1 15
Shining Leaf-chafers, 561
Ship-timber Beetle, 553
Shore-bugs, 134
Short-horned Bugs, 124
Short-horned Grasshoppers, 108
Short-horned Orthorrhapha, 417
Short-tongued Bees, 665
Shrimps, 11
Shrubs, 292, 351
Sialidae, 176
Silk, 22

Silk-worm, 340
Silpha, 531
Silphid®, 529

Silvanus surinamensis, 538
Silver-spotted Skipper, 370
Similar-winged Owlets, 296
Simple Eyes, 59
Si mu I i idtc, 451

Simulium, 451; S. innoxium, 453; S.
meridionalc, 453; S. molestum,
453; S. pecuarum, 453
Siphonaptera, 490
Siphuncles, 67
Sirex, 615
Siricidas, 614
Sitodrepa panicea, 553
Skeleton, 67
Skiff Caterpillar, 224
Skin-beetles, 559
Skins, 538

Skippers, 195, 206, 364, 486
Skippers with a Costal Fold, 369
Skippers with a Discal Patch, 372
Slave-ant, 641

Slavemaker-ant, 640
Slug-caterpillar Moths, 223
Smaller Empty Oak-apple, 619
Small-headed Flies, 458
Small intestine, 71
Small Metal- mark, 394
Smerinthus geminatus, 333
Smoky-moths, 226
Snake-doctors, 90
Snakehead, 399
Snipe-flies, 456
Snout-beetles, 590
Snout Butterfly, 397
Snowberry, 338, 339
Snow-flea, 85

Snowy Tree-cricket, 114, 118
Social Bees, 672
Social Wasps, 660
Soldier-flies, 455
Soldiers, 96

Solitary Long-tongued Bees, 667

Solitary-midge, 449

Solitary Wasps, 658

Sooty-wing, 372

Sores, 483

Sorrel, 390

Southern Buffalo-gnat, 453
Southern Cloudy-wing, 371
Sovereigns, 406
Sow-bugs, 12
Spanish Bayonet, 367
Spathegaster, 618
Spear-marked Black, 283
Spear-winged Flies, 469
Specialized, 200
Specialized Frenatae, 204
Specialized Macrofrenatae, 205
Species, 3
Sphaeriidae, 533

Sphaerophthalma occidentalis, 648

Sphecidae, 650

Sphecina, 644

Sphecids, 650

Sphecius speciosus, 653

Sphenophorus, 596

Sphindidce, 554

Sphingicampa bicolor, 347

Sphingidae, 329

Sphinx chersis, 334

Sphinxes, 329

Sphyracephala brevicornis, 486
Spiders, 12, 20, 651
Spider-wasps, 650
Spilosoma virginica, 322
Spindles, 90
Spinnerets, 22

698

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

Spinning organs, 22
Spinning tubes, 22
Spiny Oak slug, 224
Spiny Oak-worm, 348
Spiracles, 13, 73
Spittle Insects, 152
Spondylidie, 566
Spongy Oak-apple, 618
Spotted Cut-worm, 306
Spotted Pelidnota, 562
Spotted Thyris, 329
Spring Azure, 391
Spring Canker-worm, 275
Spring-tails, 82, 84
Sprinkled Locust, hi
Squash, 535, 577
Squash-bug, 144
Squash-bug Family, 143
Squash-vine Borer, 262
Stable-fly, 4S2
Stag-beetles, 554
Staphylinidse, 532

Staphylinus maculosus, 533; S. vul-
pinus, 533

Steel-blue Flea-beetle, 578
Stem-eyed Fly, 486
Stemmata, 59
Stem- mother, 159
Stenopelmatus, 115
Stephanidae, 624
Stephan ids, 624
Sternum, 501
Sterrhidae, 286
Sterrhids, 286
Stiletto-flies, 464
Stilt-bugs, 143
Sting, 66

Stinging Hymenoptera, 601, 631
Stink-bug Family, 144
Stipes, 500
Stizinse, 653
Stomach, 71

Stomoxys calcitrans, 482
Stone-flies, 93

Straight-bodied Prionid, 569
Straight-seamed Flies, 427
Stratiomyia, 456
Stratiomyiidas, 455
Strawberry-weevil, 594
Strepsiptera, 589
Striped Blister-beetle, 589
Striped Diabrotica, 577
Striped Flea-beetle, 578
Striped Footman, 325
Style, 419
Stylopidse, 589

Stylops, 590
Subclass, 5
Subcosta, 64
Subfamily, 5
Subgalea, 500
Subgenus, 5
Sub marginal cells, 607
Submentum, 501
Suborder, 5
Subspecies, 5
Subspecific names, 7
Sugar, 45

Sugar-cane Beetle, 563
Sugar- maples, 570
Sunflower, wild, 581
Superfamily, 5
Superior lobe, 500
Superorder, 5
Sutures, 57

Swallow-tails, 375, 376
Sweet-brier, 621
Sweet-gale, 284
Sweet-potato, 580
Sweet-potato Root-borer, 595
Swifts, 215
Symphasis, 179
Symphoricarpus, 339
Synchloe olympia, 385
Synchlora glaucaria, 288
Synopsis of the Coleoptera, 496; of
the Heteroptera, 124; of the Hy¬
menoptera, 601; of the Lepidop-
tera, 204; of the Orthoptera, 105
Syringa, 363
Syrphidte, 470
Syrphus, 472
Syrphus-flies, 470

Tabanidse, 453

Tabanus, 454; T. atratus, 455
Table for determining the families
of the Coleoptera, 505; of the
Heteroptera, 125; of the Homop-
tera, 148; of the Hymenoptera,
607; of the Lepidoptera, 207; of
the Ncuroptera, 175; of the Sphe-
cina, 646; of Spiders, 26
Table of the Classes of the Arthro-
poda, 10

Table of the Orders of the Arach-
nida, 14; of the Hcxapoda, 77
Table of the Suborders of the Hemip*
tera, 123; of the Thysanura, 83
Tachina-flies, 481
Tachininae, 481’

Tailed Blue, 392

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

699

Tailed Whip-scorpions, 18
Tailless Whip-scorpions, 19
Tangle-veined Flies, 459
Tarantula-hawk, 650
Tarantulas, 27, 650
Tarsus, 13, 62
Tegulae, 421, 602
Telamon a, 155
Telea polyphemus, 352
Tenebrio molitor, 583
Tenebrionidae, 582
Tent-caterpillar of the Forest, 362
Tent-caterpillars, 359, 360
Tenthredinidai, 61 1
Tentiform mines, 250
Terebrantia, 610
Tergum, 501

Terias = Eurema and Xanthidia
Termes fiavipes, 96; T. gilvus, 97
Termites, 95
Termitidae, 95
Tetracha, 518

Tetraopes, 574*. T. tetraophthalmus,
574

Tettix, hi

Thalessa, 623; T. lunator, 623
Thanaos bathyllus, 371; T. martialis,
371

Thecesternus humeralis, 591
Thecla, 392; see also Atlides, Eu-
psyche, Incisalia, and Mitoura
Thecla cal an us, 392
The Least Skipper, 373
Thelyphonidas, 18
Thelyphonus giganteus, 18
Theory of descent, 2
Theraphosidae, 27
There va, 465
Therevidse, 464
Theridiidae, 34
Thick-head Flies, 476
Thistles, 402
Thomisida:, 40

Thorax and its appendages, 62
Thorybes pyladcs, 371
Thread-legged Bugs, 136
Thread-waisted Wasps, 650
Three-lined Lema, 575
Three-spotted Doryphora, 576
Thrip, 154
Thrips, 1 19
Throscidae, 548
Thyatira scripta, 292
Thyatirida: = Cymatophoridae
Thyreonotus, 115
Thyrididie, 328

Thyridopteryx ephemerasformis, 220
Thyris lugubris, 329; T. maculata,

329

Thysanura, 82

Thysbe Clear-wing, 338

Tibia, 13, 62

Ticks, 43

Tiger- beetles, 516

Tiger-moths, 317

Tiger Swallow-tail, 378

Tile horned Prionus, 569

Tinea biselliella, 258; T. pellionella,

257; T. tapetzella, 258
Tineids, 246
Tineina, 246
Tingitidae, 139
Tiphia inornata, 649
Tipula abdominalis, 431
Tipulidse, 429
Tmetocera ocellana, 241
Toad-shaped Bugs, 133
Toadstools, 583
Tobacco, 335, 553
Tobacco-worm, 335
Toe-biters, 132

Tolype, 360; T. laricis, 363; T. vel

leda, 362

Tomatoes, 300, 335
Tomato-worm, 335
Tomicus typographus, 597
Tortoise-beetles, 580
Tortricidae, 244
Tortricids, 239
Tortricids, the Typical, 244
Tortricina, 239
Trachea, 13, 22, 74
Tracheal gills, 75
Tracheal lungs, 13
Trap door Spiders, 27
Tree Crickets, 118
Tree-hoppers, 154
Tremex columba, 615
Triangle Spider, 38
Trichodectes scalaris, IOI
Trichodes nuttalli, 552
Trichoptera, 186
Trichopterygidae, 533
Trigonalidac, 621
Trigonal ids, 621
Trigonal ys, 621
Triprocris, 227
Triptogon = Marumba
Trochanter, 13, 62
Trochantin, 504
Trogositidae, 542
Tropsea luna, 353

700

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

Tropisternus, 528; T. californicus,
528; T. glaber, 528
Trox, 559

True Brachycera, 418
True Bugs, 123
True Crickets, 1 1 7
True Nematocera, 417
True Wasps, 657
Trumpet mines, 249
Trypeta pomonella, 486; T. solida-
ginis, 4S6
Trypetinze, 485
Trypoxylon frigidum, 657
Tube-building Clothes-moth, 258
Tube Weavers in part, 29, 30
Tumble-bugs, 556, 558
Turkey, 101
Turkey-gnat, 453
Turnips, 371, 578
Turnus Form, 378
Tussock moths, 308
Twelve-spotted Diabrotica, 577
Twin-spotted Sphinx, 333
Two-colored Footman, 325
Two-colored Royal-moth, 346
Two-lined Parallelia. 298
Two-lined Prominent, 266
Two-spotted Oberea, 573
Typical Ants, 640
Typical Cerambycids, 569
Typical Coleoptera, 496, 515
Typical Muscids, 482
Typical Nymphalids, 398

Ugly-nest Tortricids, 244
Uloborid®, 38
Uloborids, 38
Uloborus, 39

Umbelliferous plants, 377
Under lip, 61
Under wing, 298, 303
Upper lip, 61
Urtica, 403
Utetheisa bella, 319

Vanessa, 401; see also Aglais and
Eu vanessa

Vanessa atalanta, 401; V. cardui,
402; V. huntera, 401
Vanessids, 401
Variegated Fritillary, 400
Variegated Tessellate, 372
Vedalia, 166, 535
Veliidze, 134
Velleda Lappet, 362
Velvet-ants, 648
Vespa, 662

Vespidze, 660
Vespina, 657
Viburnum, 338
Viceroy, 407
Vine, 336

Vine-loving Pomace-fly, 487
Violet Tip, 405

Virginia-creeper, 226, 228, 303, 313
315. 337

Virginian Buprestid, 549
Volucella, 472

Walking-sticks, 108
Walnut, 353
Wanderer, 390
Wasps, 657
Water-boatmen, 129
Water-scavenger Beetles, 527
Water-scorpions, 130
Water-striders, 135
Wax, 166, 234

Wedge-shaped Leaf-beetles, 579
Weevils, 593

Well-marked Tussock-moth, 31 1
Western Crickets, 115
Wheat, 153
Wheat-midge, 447
Whip-scorpions, 17
Whirligig-beetles, 525
White-ants, 95

White-blotch Oak-leaf Miner, 250
White gmbs, 649
White-lined Sphinx, 337
White-marked Tussock-moth, 310
White-M Hair-streak, 394
White Mountain Butterfly, 412
White pine, 246
Whites, 382

White-striped Black, 283
White-tipped Moth, 266
Willow, 223, 224, 268, 334, 403, 406,
612

Window-flics, 465
Window- winged Moths, 328
Wings, 63
Wing-veins, 603
Winter eggs, 159
Witch-hazel, 308
Witch-hazel Dagger, 308
Wood-nymph Moths, 313
Woolly Aphids, 161
Woolly-louse of the Apple, 162
Workers, 96
Worms, 9
Wormy apples, 241
Wounds, 483

INDEX AND GLOSSARY.

JO l

fc.

Xanthidia nicippe, 386
Xenos, 590

Xylocopa virginica, 670
Xylophagus, 457, 458

Yeast-cakes, 236
Yellow-bear, 322
Yellows, 385
Yucca, 367
Yucca-borer, 367

Zaitha, 132
Zebra Caterpillar, 305
Zebra Swallow-tail, 379
Zercne czesonia, 386
Zeuzera pyrina, 223
Zimmermann's Pine-pest, 236
Zoological classification, 1
Zoological nomenclature, 5
Zygaenidse, 326
Zygasnids, 326

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